SLO County sheriff investigating deaths of Goleta couple in Cambria

A Goleta-area couple died Sunday in San Luis Obispo County, and the community has rallied behind their family with a fundraising campaign.

SLO County Sheriff’s spokesman Tony Cipolla confirmed that John and Kristen Ruskey died Sunday in Cambria. The case is actively being investigated, and at this time, the deaths do not appear suspicious, he said.

Autopsies were scheduled for this week, Cipolla added.

John “Jay” and Kristen Ruskey owned Good Land Organics, an exotic fruit and coffee farm on Farren Road just west of Goleta. They have three children.

News of their deaths spread quickly this week, and a GoFundMe account to support the family raised nearly $80,000 in less than 24 hours.

No details about the circumstances of the deaths were available Tuesday, but they were characterized as sudden and unexpected.

“The Ruskeys were caring and generous members of our community” who were “loving and fiercely engaged parents to their cherished children,” GoFundMe organizer Jose Caballero wrote.

“We are all at a loss to navigate this unimaginable loss, but we are reaching out for support to help the Ruskey family with funeral costs, memorial arrangements, and to alleviate immediate financial pressure,” he wrote.

“Any donation, no matter how small, is deeply appreciated as we honor Jay and Kristen’s memory by supporting their children.”

This story was originally published February 11, 2026 at 10:59 AM with the headline "SLO County sheriff investigating deaths of Goleta couple in Cambria."