A body was found in the water off Ocean Beach shortly after midnight on Monday, September 14, authorities said.
San Diego police were called shortly after 12:30 a.m. after someone spotted a body in the water off Brighton Avenue, south of Lifeguard Tower 5.No information about the person found was released.
Authorities have not released the identity of the person found, and the case has been referred to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office, which will determine both the cause of death and the person’s identity.
San Diego police and the Medical Examiner’s Office are involved in the case, but authorities have not described the investigative procedure. The Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to handle identification and determine the cause of death, a process that is now underway in Monday’s case.
The predawn timing of Monday’s sighting highlights the challenges of responding to an ocean emergency. San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Services handles ocean water rescues.
Identification Could Rely on Forensic Testing
The methods the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office may use to identify the person found have not been disclosed. Whether additional identification methods will be needed in Monday’s case remains unknown, as authorities have not yet released any information about who was found or how they died.
For now, the identity of the person found off Brighton Avenue and the circumstances surrounding their death remain unknown, pending the Medical Examiner’s autopsy findings. San Diego police have not said whether Homicide detectives will need to get involved.
News sources:
