Full Notification

Patterson, CA- At 8:30 AM an employee with the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority notified Stanislaus County Sheriff’s detectives that a body was found floating in the Delta-Mendota Canal near Gate #9 South of Fink Road South of the City of Patterson.

Detectives, the West Stanislaus-Patterson Fire Department and the Sheriff’s Dive Team responded and recovered the body of an adult Hispanic male who’s physical and clothing description matches that of suspected kidnapper Jose Rodriguez. Rodriguez is suspected of kidnapping four year old Juliana Cardenas and then driving into the Delta-Mendota Canal.

Gate #9 is located approximately 11 miles south of the location where detectives determined that Rodriguez drove his car into the canal with Juliani after kidnapping Juliani from his grandmother on January 18, 2011.

An autopsy is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday at the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department Coroner’s Division. Positive identification will be made through evidence recovery, dental records and/or DNA.

For information regarding this press release please contact:

Sheriff Adam Christianson
Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department