Friends Mourn Woman Killed in Desert Blast

Lynn Standish, a single mother killed by a mysterious explosion in the desert near her Pearblossom home, was remembered Monday by friends and family as a woman who often hiked through the sandy terrain, looking for collectibles, recyclables and a few moments of peace in what was sometimes a troubled life.

The desert calm was shattered Friday afternoon, investigators said, when some type of explosive device went off while Standish, 33, was sifting through discarded items in a patch of open desert. She might have picked up or stepped on the object.

“She loved making jewelry,” said her mother, Virginia Holmes. “She would find old beads or old bottles that they don’t make any more. She’d find old lace out there--even clothes. It was peaceful and relaxing.

“She loved anything to do with the outdoors,” Holmes said.

With a smile, her father, Keith Holmes, added: “She came back the other day and showed me she had 10 pennies that someone had thrown away with their junk.”

Two of Standish’s three sons accompanied her on the hike. Her 4-year-old, Michael Hepburn, suffered a serious leg injury in the blast. His brother, Jeffrey Standish, 9, who was standing a short distance away from his mother, was not injured.

Family members provided some details about what happened after the blast.

Seeing that Michael was injured, Jeffrey took off his shirt and used it to cover his younger brother. Jeffrey then carried Michael to their mother’s car. A passing motorist summoned help.

Although he was not hurt, Jeffrey stayed in his brother’s Antelope Valley Hospital room for three days, offering comfort.

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His grandparents said Michael must remain in traction for four weeks while receiving treatment for his leg injury, but they said he is expected to recover fully.

A third son, Jared Standish, 14, had not joined the others on the hike.

At the time of her death, Standish was unemployed. She lived with her parents in the small unincorporated town where she had grown up. She devoted most of her time to caring for her children.

“Being a single mother, she felt she needed to be with the three boys,” Virginia Holmes said.

After Standish’s death, church members and neighbors in Pearblossom, about 20 miles east of Palmdale, rallied around the surviving family members, offering sympathy, meals and donations for Standish’s funeral and for her sons’ future.

On Monday, sheriff’s homicide investigators were still trying to figure out what sort of explosive device Standish had stumbled upon and who had left it along a dirt road near 106th Street East.

Longtime residents of Pearblossom and neighboring Littlerock said they have complained for years about the widespread dumping of old sofas, appliances, junk vehicles and other trash in the undeveloped desert areas. But county officials have said they have neither enough funds nor staff to adequately enforce laws against dumping in the desert.

While some residents have complained about the discarded goods, others, such as Standish, have looked for treasures that may be mixed in with the trash.

Still, several local leaders said that before Friday, they had never heard of an explosive device turning up among the discards.

The funeral service for Standish is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday at Pearblossom Foursquare Church.

The Rev. Cheryl Baker, a close friend of Standish and her family, will officiate.

The church is accepting donations to help with the family’s expenses. Baker said checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 440, Pearblossom, Calif. 93553.