Man found dead in California Aqueduct near Patterson identified
A man who was found dead in the California Aqueduct on Sunday morning has been identified by the Stanislaus County Coroner’s Office.
A farmworker found Eric Villarreal, 37, floating in the aqueduct south of Patterson near Ward Avenue, said California Highway Patrol Officer Aaron Norseen.
The CHP became aware of Villarreal on Friday when officers found his vehicle parked on the canal bank in the area. Norseen said he contacted Villarreal’s family members, who said they hadn’t seen him since Thursday night.
The family of Villarreal, who lived in the Del Puerto Canyon area, reported him missing on Saturday and his body surfaced the following day.
Coroner’s officials are awaiting toxicology results to determine a cause and manner of death, but Norseen said the preliminary investigation shows no signs of trauma.
