By Tahtiana James
For many high school seniors, graduation is a moment filled with pride, joy, and hope, a celebration of the past and the promise of what’s ahead. But for some, that moment feels less like stepping into a new chapter and more like being pushed off a cliff into the unknown.
“After your senior year is really the first time in your entire life that you actually get to choose,” says Adrienne Bakewell, Ukiah High School’s mental health counselor. “There’s a ton of overwhelm and stress from having to make large decisions, and then possibly, stress and depression from how things turn out.”
For some students, the weight of that freedom can be crushing. And for Angel Murguia-Martinez, a member of the Ukiah High graduating Class of 2017, the journey after high school became a silent struggle that ended in heartbreaking tragedy.
On Valentine’s Day, 2024, Murguia-Martinez went missing. He had walked away from his Ukiah home late in the evening and disappeared. Unresponsive to messages, concern quickly grew among friends, family, and coworkers. In the days that followed, the Ukiah community launched search efforts and spread awareness on social media. Despite ongoing efforts, weeks turned into months with no answers, leaving his loved ones in a painful state of uncertainty.
In March 2025, more than a year after his disappearance, Murguia-Martinez’s body was discovered in the Low Gap area by a cleanup crew. The confirmation brought an end to the long search, but also marked the beginning of a new wave of grief for those who had held onto hope. The discovery devastated his family and deeply impacted the Ukiah High School community, where Murguia-Martinez had been known for his kindness, quiet strength, and love of music and video games.
UHS News spoke with Murguia-Martinez’s family and said they remember him as quiet, deeply kind, with a heart full of music and a passion for gaming. After graduation, he found joy in his job at GameStop, which was a place where his enthusiasm and gentle spirit truly shone. But beneath the surface, he was quietly enduring a darkness that few could see.
“Angel did have some serious bouts of depression that consumed him,” his family shared with UHS News. “We sought help for him. We tried. But in the end, it was what took him from us.”
His story is a painful reminder that some of the brightest smiles can hide the deepest wounds. Bakewell explains, “There’s a lot of misunderstanding with depression, especially in young people. Just because someone is laughing with friends or showing up to school doesn’t mean they’re okay when they go home.”
According to Murguia-Martinez’s family, his downward spiral seemed to deepen after losing his grandmother, the woman who helped raise him. Though Murguia-Martinez did see a counselor for a time, like many young people navigating mental health, the support was not consistent, and eventually, he stopped going.
“In our community, mental health care is virtually non-existent,” his family says. “I believe that Angel really lost a battle that no one ever really ever knew he was fighting.”
Silence can be deadly. That’s why Murguia-Martinez’s family is speaking out, urging others to listen, to check in, and to never assume someone is “fine” just because they’re functioning. Murguia-Martinez’s family wants students to know that it’s okay not to be okay, and it’s essential to ask for help.
“I would want them to know that they are not alone,” his family says. “I would want them to know that the amount of pain and hurt this has placed on our hearts and souls has been devastating. Even if you think you are not loved or that you will not be missed I can promise you that you are loved more than you know and you would be missed…Tremendously.”
Bakewell also wants to ease the pressure students may feel when trying to support a friend. “You’re not expected to fix it. Just walk with them. Lead them to someone who might be able to help.”
Bakewell agrees that the emotional terrain after high school is often overlooked. “We’ve literally lived our whole lives with structure – bells ringing, classes scheduled, people checking in,” she says. “And then suddenly we say, ‘Go make the biggest decision of your life – and do it on your own.’ No structure. No safety net. It’s easy to flounder.”
To honor Murguia-Martinez’ memory and try to protect others from similar pain, his family is working to place a memorial bench at Low Gap Park. “If you see someone sitting there alone then just maybe you could take a moment and be the person that changes their mind when they feel they have lost their battle.”
Tahtiana James is a senior in her first journalism class at Ukiah High School. She has a passion for environmental science and storytelling. Growing up in Ukiah, Tahtiana developed a deep appreciation for nature, which drives her interest in studying the environment. Tahtiana enjoys combining her love for writing with a commitment to raising awareness about environmental issues, especially those impacting local communities. When not writing or studying, Tahtiana can be found exploring the nearby hills or experimenting with sustainable practices. Tahtiana looks forward to contributing to the school’s environmental club and making a difference through her work in journalism.
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