Santa Cruz County Search and Rescue

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Please be on the lookout for 15-year-old Nicholas Magana-Zamora. Nicholas was last seen around 11:00 AM yesterday leaving his residence in Watsonville. At the time he was believed to be in the area of Laken Dr and E. Lake Ave.

Nicholas is approximately 5'5" with brown hair, brown eyes and last seen wearing a gray shirt, green jacket, blue jeans, and riding a multi colored mountain bike.

If anyone has any information or has seen Nicholas, please contact us at 831-471-1121

Santa Cruz County Homicide Suspect arrested in Switzerland

On May 29th, 2025, 54-year-old James Smallwood was arrested in connection with the death of his father, 90-year-old Robert Smallwood.

On May 18th, 2025, relatives of Robert Smallwood reported him missing after not being able to contact him for several days. On May 19th, Sheriff’s detectives, with the assistance of the SCSO Search and Rescue team, conducted a search of Robert’s residence and property on Jarvis Road. During the search, a deceased person, later identified as Robert Smallwood, was located. An autopsy later determined the manner of death to be a homicide.

Sheriff’s detectives and the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office conducted a joint investigation which quickly determined that the person responsible for the death was the decedent’s son, James Smallwood. James had been living with the decedent and had fled to Switzerland prior to the discovery of his father’s body. Investigators worked with the Swiss government, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to locate James Smallwood and take him into custody.

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the SCSO Search and Rescue Team, the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office, our Forensics Unit, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and Swiss authorities for their critical assistance throughout this investigation.
James Smallwood is currently being held in Switzerland pending extradition proceedings. Upon his return to Santa Cruz County, he will be booked into the Main Jail on the following charges:

Count 1: Murder, a felony, in violation of California Penal Code 187(a)
Count 2: Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse, a felony, in violation of California Penal Code 368(b)(1)
Count 3: Unlawful Driving or taking of a Vehicle, a felony, in violation of California Vehicle Code 10851(a)
Counts 4, 5, 6 and 7: Identity Theft, as felonies, in violation of California Penal Code 530.5(a)