On April 10, 2018 at about 12:00pm the Merced County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible body in the canal. Deputies responded to the area of the Delta Mendota Canal about one mile west of Henry Miller and Hwy 33 in Santa Nella. Additionally, deputies met with the Water Ways employees who took them to the area they found the suspected body. The Merced County Sheriff’s Office Rescue and Recovery Dive Team was called to the area as well and recovered a deceased adult male subject from the water. The decedent was transported to the Merced County Coroners facility.

At this time the circumstances of death and identification is unclear pending an autopsy. This is an ongoing investigation so if you have any information that would assist in the identity of the decedent, please contact the Merced County Sheriff’s Office at 209-385-7445.