Authorities on Wednesday identified the human remains found in the Angeles National Forest earlier this month as a missing Glendale man, according to sheriff’s officials.
The body of Nicholas Carter, 25, was found on Jan. 19 near mile marker 2.72 on Big Tujunga Canyon Road, according to Lt. Mike Rosson with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.
An autopsy showed that Carter had been beaten to death, Rosson said.
“It’s being investigated as a homicide,” he added.
Carter went missing sometime between Jan. 4 and 7, Rosson said.
The initial search began Jan. 9 when a hiker found a shallow grave near mile marker 2.92. No human remains were found at the time.