Another 23 people died “without fixed abode” in OC in January 2026. Additionally, one person who died in November 2025 has been added to the coroner’s list of homeless deceased. Their names are:
Jeffrey BRYAN who died on Nov. 25, 2025 in Fullerton
Oliver CARTER who died on January 1st in Garden Grove
Nicolas OLIVARES-SANCHEZ who died on January 1st in Fullerton
Alejandra RAMIREZ TORRES who died on January 1st in Fountain Valley
Joshua NUNEZ who died on January 1st in Anaheim
Anthony DE ANGELIS who died on January 4th in Anaheim
Judy HAIMANN who died on January 5th in Cypress
Rebecca WHITMARSH who died on January 9th in Anaheim
Sabrina DURAN who died on January 9th in Santa Ana
Francisco OSORIO who died on January 11th in Santa Ana
Corwin WILSON who died on January 12th in Anaheim
Johan MILLIGAN who died on January 12th in Costa Mesa
Jonathan DELGADO who died on January 13th in Santa Ana
Michael REILLY who died on January 16th in Buena Park
John LAVOIE who died on January 18th in Santa Ana
David MORRISON who died on January 19th in Fountain Valley
Alfredo ALVARADO who died on January 20th in Santa Ana
Jose RAMOS-HERNANDEZ who died on January 21st in Placentia
Phillip VILLAFANA who died on January 27th in Santa Ana
Charles ZAYAS who died on January 29th in Huntington Beach
James RUFUS who died on January 29th in Orange
Elvira ANAVIA DE BANON who died on January 29th in Santa Ana
DeAna JEFFERS who died on January 31st in Mission Viejo
Angelo BAUER who died on January 31st in Garden Grove
While a “new normal” may be in the process of being established, with levels of homeless deaths falling to levels not seen since 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, even in 2020 as in 2025, 325 people died during the course of the year on the streets of OC, or nearly 1 per day.
And while the county’s homeless death count has decreased by 35% from its height of 490 people dead in 2023 and 500 in 2023, it still means that people are still dying on our streets, “without fixed abode” at a rate of 2/3 of its peak – more people are dying than are being saved – and that should remain a problem, especially in a County as wealthy as ours.
In the coming month or two, the County should release its annual report on the Homeless Deaths in OC. We should be able to see then where improvements have been made, and where work remains to be done to reduce our County’s homeless death rate effectively to zero, because no one should have to die on the streets, alone.
Fr. Dennis Kriz, OSM, Pastor St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church, Fullerton.
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