Body of Man Found in Eel River Identified
Southern Humboldt County Technical Rescue guiding the body of Bruce Allen Thompson through rapids on the Eel River. [Photo by Talia Rose]
On Tuesday 12/11/18 an autopsy was performed on the previously unidentified human remains located in the Eel River in Piercy CA, on 12/05/2018. The Mendocino County Coroner’s Office was able to positively identify the decedent as that of Bruce Allen Thompson, 52 years of age, out of Santa Rosa CA. The decedent had last been seen by a relative in Eureka, CA on 11/13/2018 when he left, saying he was going back home in Sonoma County. The relative did not hear from the decedent by 11/15/2018 and learned that he’d missed a medical appointment. The decedent had been suffering from depression due to a serious decline in his health recently. A missing persons case was then filed with the Santa Rosa Police Department.
The cause and manner of death are not available due to additional medical tests being conducted.
Earlier Chapters:
- Wildlife Photographer Discovers Body in the Eel River
- ‘This Is a Human Being’: How Tech Rescue Volunteers Dropped Everything to Recover Body Found in the Eel River
- A Possible Match Found for Body Located Near Humboldt/Mendocino County Line
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His vehicle was located around confusion Hill? That’s a long ways Upstream from where the body was found. Considering the Lack of rainfall and high water this year….
there river was over 1000 cfs inbetween when his car and body were found. Easily could have carried him that far.
Definitely mikey, that area really gets moving too. Serious rapids in some spots.
Yeah, the gorge narrows down a bit and funnels the water through in areas which might keep the flow up. Remember, flow increases at night and the river never sleeps.
My condolences to his loved ones. R.I.P. Mr. Thompson.
I’m not suggesting this is what happened however, I always thought it was reckless to build a 350’ tall bridge over a river with 42” guardrails. To me it’s an open invitation to someone with serious mental health issues.
Is that bridge near where his vehicle was found? I’m definitely not insinuating either but my intuition thought that’s what happened when he went missing too. One last trip to see his sister then…
It’s too bad people just can’t go to sleep somewhere. They have to die somehow.
The bridge is a 100 yards from confusion hill. Looks like he exited life flyin !!!!
Kym , what ever happened with the body that was dumped on Bell Springs near the AP split this summer? Was he ever identified? Autopsy? Anything?