Charred remains from Angeles forest to be tested for match to hikers

AZUSA, Calif. (KABC) -- More than two weeks after two hikers went missing in the Angeles National Forest near Azusa, family members found two charred bodies in the area and officials will now work to see if there is a DNA match.

The two hikers, Jonathan Pardo, 16, and his cousin Carlos Perez, 31, both from South Los Angeles, went hiking on June 20 just hours before the Reservoir Fire broke out in the area. The fire was started by a car that fell over the side of the road and spread quickly in the dry brush.

Family members were frustrated that law enforcement did not make more efforts to find the two hikers.

Lt. Mike Rosson with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, said investigators were not given specific information about where the hikers were dropped off until this week. The only detail they were told initially was in the Azusa area, he said.

Because of the steep terrain, the Los Angeles County coroner's office had some difficulty removing the remains, having to hoist them out carefully with ropes.

Officials said it could take several weeks for DNA results to confirm whether the two charred bodies are the missing hikers.