Another 23 people died “without fixed abode” in Orange County in February 2026. Their names are:
Michelle MARTIN who died on February 1st in Newport Beach
Russell KNAPP who died on February 1st in Huntington Beach
Filiberto JUAREZ who died on February 2nd in Santa Ana
Jose GOMEZ who died on February 3rd in Anaheim
Bobby CALLUM who died on February 3rd in Orange
Brandon PUGH who died on February 4th in Anaheim
Michael CLARK who died on Feb 7th in Anaheim
Julie LOPEZ who died on Feb 8th in Garden Grove
Dennis WELSCH JR. who died on Feb 9th in Santa Ana
Cortland BELL who died on Feb 10th in Buena Park
Aaron BARNES who died on Feb 10th in Rancho Santa Margarita
Carlos Roberto CERRATO GUTIERREZ who died on Feb 13th in Buena Park
John KIREMIT who died on Feb 18th in Newport Beach
Maria PEREZROMERO who died on Feb 18th in Irvine
Michael CLEARY who died on Feb 18th in Santa Ana
Jaime VACARANGEL who died on Feb 21st in Huntington Beach
Christopher KEEL who died on Feb 22nd in Anaheim
Deborah SCHMITZ who died on Feb 23rd in Placentia
Dianna VILLALVA who died on Feb 24th in Westminster
Richard NOWAKOWSKI who died on Feb 26th in Santa Ana
Sherri BARBOSA who died on Feb 26th in Mission Viejo
Hollis TAYLOR who died on Feb 27th in Anaheim
Tracey ROBINSON who died on Feb 27th in Irvine
Additionally two other people died earlier but their information was made available only now. Their names are:
Scott MIELKE who died on Sept 25, 2025 in Newport Beach
Richard WIDRY who died on January 13, 2026 in Westminster
The numbers are once again improving over previous years. These first two months of 2026 have resulted in a death toll of 47, among the County’s homeless population, which is lower than any year since 2020, when it was 43.
It will be interesting to better understand why when the County’s Homeless death commission releases its report in the coming months.
Until then, the numbers are a hopeful sign, even as we need to keep in mind that close to one person dies homeless on our County’s streets every day. This remains both tragic and far too high.
Fr. Dennis Kriz, OSM, Pastor St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church, Fullerton.
Opinions expressed in community opinion pieces belong to the authors and not Voice of OC.
Voice of OC is interested in hearing different perspectives and voices. If you want to weigh in on this issue or others please email opinions@voiceofoc.org.
