OCEANSIDE — The body of a man found floating in the San Luis Rey River on Feb. 13 still remains unidentified and the cause of his death undetermined, according to the medical examiner’s office.
A girl who was walking with her father and two siblings at the 300 block of North River Road discovered the man’s body in tree branches of the shallow, muddy water, which drains into the Pacific Ocean at the city’s northern end.
The body was in the beginning stages of decomposition, according to the San Diego Medical Examiner’s autopsy report.
He is described as a small-framed, apparent-Caucasian man, who was 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 120 pounds. The man appeared to be in his 30s or possibly early 40s. He had straight brown hair, and a short beard.
There were no tattoos or scars on the man, and his teeth are all natural and recorded as “in good repair.” His fingernails and toenails were clean and neatly groomed.
The man had no clothing on when he was discovered, except for lace-up canvas Vans shoes, possibly gray or white, size 7.5 U.S.
John Doe’s investigative report showed there were no obvious signs of trauma, and his death was classified as “sudden and unexpected.”
His autopsy summary reported “no significant injuries or evidence of natural disease,” and no medications or illegal drugs were found in his system.
A blood test result showed a small amount of alcohol was present, at .03 percent, but alcohol can be formed in cases of decomposition by the fermentation process, according to Deputy Medical Examiner, Jonathan Lucas, M.D., who included the finding as a comment on the toxicology report.
The unidentified man’s DNA is set to be registered with the Department of Justice as he becomes entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System DNA database, according to an investigator at the county coroner’s office.
The death of the John Doe is not being investigated as a homicide, according to the Oceanside Police Department.
Anyone who may help identify the man is asked to call the investigation department of the San Diego County Office of the Medical Examiner at (858) 694-2905.
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