Location: Friant-Kern Canal at Avenue 268, Exeter
Incident Date: 7/7/16
Incident Time: 2020 hours
Case Number: 16-08597
City: Exeter
Posted by: Media Relations
***********************UPDATE**********************************
The decedent's family members have been located.
***********************UPDATE**********************************
On July 7, 2016 at approximately 2000 hours, the body of an adult male was discovered in the Friant Kent Canal near Myers Road east of Exeter. Through fingerprint analysis, he was identified as a subject possibly from the Orosi area using multiple names.
Prior records revealed he used the names Rodrigo Lopez (44 years old) or Ramiro Lopez Cabera (41 years old) most recently.
The Tulare County Sheriff's Office Coroner Division is seeking the public’s assistance in attempting to locate the decedent’s family members or persons having knowledge of this person. Anyone having information regarding the decedent is asked to call Det. Rhoads or Sgt. Alan Knight at the Coroner’s Office at (559) 687-7000. Information can also be given by calling the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at 1-800-808-0488 or anonymously at tcso@tipnow.com or by text or voicemail at 559-725-4194.
***********************UPDATE*********************************
On 7/12/16 an autopsy was conducted on the subject located in the Friant Kern Canal. During the autopsy no signs of foul play were found. The official cause of death is pending toxicology.
The victim of the investigation is described as a light complected Hispanic male adult, 5’10” tall weighing 230 Lbs. The victim has medium length curly brown hair and a medium length red/brown beard. He was found wearing a long-sleeve camouflage thermal shirt, blue jeans and brown leather boots. There are no identifying tattoos, scars or marks on the victim.
Anyone with information on the victim or his identity is encouraged to call the Tulare County Coroner’s Office at (559) 685-2593 or send anonymous information by sending a text or email to TCSO@tipnow.com or call (559) 725-4194.
***********************Original Press Release*********************
Deceased:
On 7/7/2016 Deputies from Tulare County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Friant Kern Canal in the area of Avenue 268 for a report of a body floating in the canal. Deputies arrived on scene and contacted the reporting party who directed them towards the victim.
The Sheriff’s Office Dive team was called out along with the Violent Crimes Unit. The deceased was recovered from the water by divers. It was noted that the deceased had been in the water for an extended period of time.
Violent Crimes detectives and the Coroner noted no obvious signs of trauma or foul play. The deceased was an adult male. No ID was located with the deceased and there are no reports of missing persons in the area matching the deceased.
This incident is being handled as a suspicious death until an autopsy can determine a cause of death.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 733-6218 or send anonymous information by sending a text or email to TCSO@tipnow.com or call (559) 725-4194.