[UPDATE 5:47 p.m.: MCSO gives details] Body found near Reggae on the River

An active recovery operation is underway near the South Fork of the Eel River, close to the Humboldt–Mendocino County line and adjacent to the historic Reggae on the River festival grounds.

Around midday Saturday, the Leggett Valley Fire Department was paged to assist in a water recovery near the river. Scanner traffic indicated that the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office had discovered a vehicle in the Reggae on the River parking lot and was investigating a missing person report involving a woman last seen in the area around 7:00 a.m. that morning.

Shortly afterward, a body was located in the river south and upriver of the ROTR grounds.

Reporter Lisa Music, who is in the area, confirmed the presence of multiple responding agencies, including the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, Cal Fire, Leggett Valley Fire, and the Piercy Fire Department. The scene remains active.

It has not yet been confirmed whether the recovered body is connected to the earlier missing person report.

We have reached out to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, and Leggett Fire for confirmation and will update this story as more information becomes available.te this story as more information becomes available.

Please remember that this story is unfolding. Information is being reported as we gather it. However, some of the information coming from witnesses and initial official reports could be wrong. We will do our best to get the facts but, in the case that something is inaccurate, we will update with correct information as soon as we can.

UPDATE 4:05 p.m.: Lisa Music, reporting from the scene, spoke with the man who located the body in the South Fork of the Eel River. His name is Ross, and he is affiliated with CalTrout, a nonprofit organization working on fisheries restoration. Ross and his team were in the area conducting pikeminnow eradication efforts when they discovered the deceased.

At this time, the body appears to be located in at the eastern edge of the river, close to Highway 271. It’s unclear whether that’s the exact spot where Ross originally found the individual.

We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

UPDATE 4:44 p.m.: Photos from the scene.

The scene where multiple agencies are working to recover a body located in the South Fork of the Eel River. [All photos by Lisa Music]

UPDATE 5:47 PM: Sheriff Matt Kendall told MendoFever that the decedent is a Black male adult, estimated to be in his 40s to 50s, with dreadlocks. Based on a phone and business cards found on his person, investigators believe he may be from the Los Angeles area. Kendall said the man appeared to be associated with Reggae on the River and had been snorkeling in the Eel River when he likely drowned in a deep pool.

Updates:

Body Recovered from South Fork of the Eel River, Just South of County Line—Not Connected to Missing ROTR Attendee

Missing Woman Reported Near Reggae on the River Located Safe in Willits