Julien Hug, who vied for the heart of Jillian Harris on Season 5 of The Bachelorette in 2009, was found dead in a remote area off Highway 74 in the Southern California desert Wednesday, two days after he was reported missing.
The 35-year-old son of well-known San Diego restaurateur, Bertrand Hug, was on his way to help his family with their new restaurant Augusta Modern in Palm Desert when his cellphone went dead on Monday.
Hug’s body was discovered near his vehicle at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday in a remote off-roading area called Pinyon Pines, about 45 miles off Highway 74 in Riverside County.
The younger Hug had been serving as host at another family restaurant featuring European cuisine, the well-known Mille Fleurs in Rancho Santa Fe.
Police have not confirmed whether they suspect foul play. An autopsy was scheduled for Thursday.
Hug was eliminated during Episode 2 of The Bachelorette in May 2009. Jake Pavelka, who also vied for the heart of Jillian Harris, was booted during Episode 6. The two men got together for a Habitat For Humanity work project in May 2010.
UPDATE: Father admits son shot himself and left suicide notes for family members – photos and details.
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