This morning at 8:15 AM, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a body that had washed ashore in the Bodega Bay area, south of Salmon Creek. A man called 911 when he saw a dead body on the shoreline. The body was that of an adult man and it was badly decomposed.
There has been speculation that the deceased is Missing Person, Steven Mitchell. Because the body had been in the water for a period of time, there was no way to immediately confirm the identity. The Coroner’s Office must conduct a forensic examination and testing to determine the identity of the man. It could take weeks for the process to be completed. Once the deceased is positively identified, the family will be notified and then the name will be released to the public.
Case #160229-009, 16-0000251
Prepared by Sergeant Cecile Focha
Media Relations / PIO
