28-year-old mother identified as latest Montecito mudslide victim

By and ABC7.com staff
Sunday, January 21, 2018
The body of a missing mother was found in Montecito on Saturday, which has brought the death toll in the mudslides to 21 people.
MONTECITO, Calif. (KABC) -- The body of a missing mother was found in Montecito on Saturday, which has brought the death toll in the mudslides to 21 people.

The body of 28-year-old Faviola Benitez Calderon was recovered at about 10 a.m. Saturday by a human remains detection dog.

The 21st mudslide victim's body was found on the 100 block of Santo Tomas Lane near Olive Mill Road, above Coast Village Road.


RELATED: Names of Montecito mudslide victims released



The area is over a mile from Mary Beth Myers' home.

"The Benitez family, they were gardeners and housekeepers. This was not fancy Montecito, this was very much old-fashioned, working class," an emotional Myers said.

Nearly one third of those killed in the Jan. 9 mudslides were from immigrant families.

Myers shared a driveway with the Benitez family. She estimates that of the 24 people that lived around her, 11 perished.

Faviola's 10-year-old son, Jonathon Benitez, his cousin, 3-year-old Kailey Benitez, as well as Kailey's mother, 27-year-old Marilyn Ramos, also died in the devastating mudslides.

"Search and recovery teams, with the assistance of 16 Human Remains Detection dog teams, from throughout the state are working together this weekend in an effort to locate the missing victims and bring closure to their families," the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department said in a press release.

They are looking for two people who remain missing: 2-year-old Lydia Sutthithepa and 17-year-old Jack Cantin.

In this Jan. 15, 2018 image, the 101 Fwy is seen under water and mud as clean-up crews work to clear roads in Montecito. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)AP
"January Storms- 7 am morning briefing for the FF’s, SAR, Law and Military Personnel underway at the Incident Command Post at Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara."none
"The sun sets behind US 101 Freeway at the Olive Mill Road overpass which remains flooded with runoff water from Montecito Creek."none
"Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit’s Fire Copter 308 flies through a rainbow Tuesday afternoon while on a rescue mission in Montecito."none
"A Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Rescue Vehicle is staged while trying to get past vehicles on Hot Springs Road in Montecito."none
"SB Sheriff’s Search and Rescue personnel along with Santa Barbara County Firefighters drive on Olive Mill Road in Montecito."none
"A rainbow forms above Montecito while law enforcement and the curious survey the destruction on Hot Springs Road in Montecito."none
"A vehicle was wrapped and tangled around a tree by the force of deadly flood waters on Hot Springs Road in Montecito."none
"Detail of a Mercedes-Benz hood ornament that has been covered in runoff mud and debris. The vehicle was moved by flood waters and destroyed."none
"A semi-tractor trailer sits stuck in mud on US Highway 101 northbound just south of the San Ysidro Road offramp in Montecito."none
"Damage to guest cottages at the storied San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito due to deadly mudflow from overnight heavy rain."none
"Damage to guest cottages at the storied San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito due to deadly mudflow from overnight heavy rain."none
"Damage to guest cottages at the storied San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito due to deadly mudflow from overnight heavy rain."none
"Damaged vehicles that were pushed by mudflow and onto the US 101 Freeway from nearby residential area in Montecito."none
"Damaged vehicles that were pushed by mudflow and onto the US 101 Freeway from nearby residential area in Montecito."none
Heavy rainfall in areas affected by the Thomas Fire have caused flooding and mudflows in Montecito.none
Heavy rainfall in areas affected by the Thomas Fire have caused flooding and mudflows in Montecito.none
Heavy rainfall in areas affected by the Thomas Fire have caused flooding and mudflows in Montecito.none
Heavy rainfall in areas affected by the Thomas Fire have caused flooding and mudflows in Montecito.none
Heavy rainfall in areas affected by the Thomas Fire have caused flooding and mudflows in Montecito.none
Heavy rainfall in areas affected by the Thomas Fire have caused flooding and mudflows in Montecito.none
Heavy rainfall in areas affected by the Thomas Fire have caused flooding and mudflows in Montecito.none
Heavy rainfall in areas affected by the Thomas Fire have caused flooding and mudflows in Montecito.none
Ventura County's air rescue squad captured dramatic images of flooding in Montecito.KABC
Ventura County's air rescue squad captured dramatic images of flooding in Montecito.KABC
Ventura County's air rescue squad captured dramatic images of flooding in Montecito.KABC
"Damaged vehicles carried by mud flow and debris at the exit of the parking garage to The Montecito Inn at the corner of Olive Mill and Coast Village Road."none
"The US 101 Freeway at the Olive Mill Road overpass flooded with runoff water from Montecito Creek."none
"The US 101 Freeway at the Olive Mill Road overpass flooded with runoff water from Montecito Creek."none
"The main line of the Union Pacific Railroad through Montecito is blocked with mudflow and debris due to heavy rains."none
"The main line of the Union Pacific Railroad through Montecito is blocked with mudflow and debris due to heavy rains."none
"The US 101 Freeway at the Olive Mill Road overpass flooded with runoff water from Montecito Creek."none
"Firefighters successfully rescued a 14 yr old girl (right) after she was trapped for hours inside a destroyed home in Montecito."none
"Santa Barbara County Fire Search Dog Reilly looks for victims in damaged and destroyed homes in Montecito following deadly runoff of mud and debris from heavy rain overnight."none
"Scene from the 300 block of Hot Springs Road in Montecito following debris and mud flow due to heavy rain."none
"Scene from the 300 block of Hot Springs Road in Montecito following debris and mud flow due to heavy rain."none
"Scene from the 300 block of Hot Springs Road in Montecito following debris and mud flow due to heavy rain."none
"Scene from the 300 block of Hot Springs Road in Montecito following debris and mud flow due to heavy rain."none
"The national guard on Coast Village Road. Grateful for our first responders"none
"FF’s tend to a woman on Hot Springs Road while waiting for an ambulance. The woman was pulled by FF’s from a debris pile in Montecito caused by heavy rain runoff."none
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