[UPDATE 5:14 p.m.] One Laytonville Man Dead, One Missing in Boating Accident

Press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office:

Vincent Soto, 40 years of age, missing after a boating accident.

On June 11, 2019 around 6:10 PM the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office was contacted about a deceased person found floating in the water at the south east end of Lake Mendocino. It was also reported that a boat, without any persons aboard was also located in the immediate area. The reporting party indicated he’d observed the boat unattended, with no one aboard, so he went to investigate and observed the body in the water.

Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area and with the assistance of personnel from the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, located and recovered the body of a deceased male adult approximately 50 yards away from the boat. Identification in the boat was used to identify the decedent as Carlos Soto, 62 years of age, out of Laytonville CA. The cause of death in this case has not been determined but there were no obvious signs of foul play being involved. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday June 13, 2019.

During this investigation a second wallet with identification and cellular telephone were also located inside the boat. The wallet and phone belonged to Vincent Soto, a 40 year old adult male, also out of Laytonville CA. Deputies were able to contact family members of the decedent where they learned the decedent, Carlos Soto, and his son, Vincent Soto had gone fishing on Lake Mendocino and should still be together. Deputies also located the missing persons vehicle with a boat trailer at the North Boat Ramp of Lake Mendocino. With the the two men having planned a day out together on the lake, a missing persons investigation was initiation related to Vincent Soto. An initial search of the lake showed no signs of where Vincent might be.

Sheriff’s Deputies contacted the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team who initiated a search by boat and by ground using divers and a side scan sonar system used to search under water. Search Teams will also be searching the shoreline of the lake.

Vincent Soto (pictured below) is described as being 5’09” tall, weighing approximately 190 pounds, with “salt and pepper” colored hair that is cut short. He is clean shaven and when last contacted by relatives, around 1300 hours on June 12, was shirtless and thought to be wearing blue denim cargo type shorts and possibly red (low top) style tennis shoes, possibly made by Nike. Family members said he has three tattoos; “One Love” on his chest that is multicolored, an English Mastiff on his left shoulder and a Native American with feathers on his right shoulder.

Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center at 707-463-4086.

Deceased- Soto, Carlos- Native American adult male, 62 years of age, resident of Laytonville CA.
Missing-Soto, Vincent- Native American adult male, 40 years of age, resident of Laytonville CA.

UPDATE 5:14 p.m.: Press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, Mendocino County Search and Rescue, personnel of the Army Corps of Engineers, family and friends of the missing person, and a helicopter were all deployed and utilized in search efforts this morning and afternoon in an attempt to locate missing person, Vincent Soto. The Helicopter and crew were attending a training for flight crews at the Ukiah airport and graciously diverted to assist in this search. These effort were not successful.

The search efforts will start again on the morning of June 13th. Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Communications Center at 707-463-4086.