Body of missing teen, 14, found in Lake Sonoma

Posted on July 6, 2015 by Sonoma Valley Sun

After two days of an intense, multi-agency search, the body of a 14-year-old boy thrown from an inner-tube being towed by a watercraft Saturday on Lake Sonoma was found today at about 2:15.

“We have been close contact with the family, many of whom remained at Lake Sonoma throughout the entire search,” stated Sonoma County Sheriff Sergeant Cecile Focha. “We are respecting their wishes to not release their son’s identity at this time.

The search for the boy began at about 4 p.m. on July 4 and continued until about 10 p.m., when darkness made it too dangerous to continue, according to a Sheriff’s Office statement. The search resumed at about 8 a.m. Sunday morning and continued until dark.

“The search now focused on the 50-150 feet-deep channel region,” Focha said. “The child was presumed lost and likely drowned in the water.”

Monday morning, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit was again on the water. They were assisted by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Dive Team. They brought their Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) which is ostensibly a submarine tethered to a boat which is capable of capturing images of the deeper portions of the lake.