Under the management of administrators appointed by the government, the Mission property rapidly disappeared, lands were sold, live-stock killed and scattered, and only the fragments of wreckage remained to be turned over to the jurisdiction of the padres according to the decree of Micheltorena in 1843.

The following year an epidemic of smallpox caused the death of the greater proportion of Indians still living at Purisima, and the final act in the history of the once flourishing Mission was reached In 1845, when, by order of Governor Pico, the ruined estate was sold to John Temple for the paltry amount stated above.
In regard to its present ownership and condition, a gentleman interested writes: "The abandoned Mission is on ground which now belongs to the Union Oil Company of California.

The building itself has been desecrated and damaged by the public ever since its abandonment.

Its visitors apparently did not scruple to deface it in every possible way, and what could not be stolen was ruthlessly destroyed.

It apparently was a pleasure to them to pry the massive roof-beams loose, in order to enjoy the crash occasioned by the breaking of the valuable tile.
"On top of this the late series of earthquakes in that section threw down many of the brick pillars, and twisted the remainder so badly that the front of the building is a veritable wreck.