Stanislaus coroner will use DNA to ID man found in river in Knights Ferry

The Stanislaus County Coroner’s Office will use DNA results to positively identify the man whose body was found Wednesday morning in the Stanislaus River above the covered bridge in Knights Ferry.

The family of Josue Alfredo Sanchez came to the scene Wednesday, Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Eric DeHart said, and was asked to go to the Coroner’s Office that afternoon in case relatives could make positive ID.

Sanchez went missing in the river May 23. He and a friend got into the water holding on to a raftlike inflatable about two miles east of the bridge. Before reaching the bridge, they lost their grip when they encountered rapids.

Sanchez’s friend made it out of the water, which DeHart said remains very cold – in the high 40s to low 50s.

This story was originally published June 15, 2017 at 1:08 PM with the headline "Stanislaus coroner will use DNA to ID man found in river in Knights Ferry."