OXNARD : Man’s Body Found Under Friend’s Boat
The Oxnard Police Department is investigating what lead to the drowning of a 27-year-old Shadow Hills man who was visiting a friend in Oxnard, authorities said Thursday.
The body of Joseph Asterita was found Wednesday beneath a boat owned by a friend, Gregory Blocker, that was moored behind Blocker’s house in the 4500 block of Falkirk Bay, Sgt. Jeff Young of the Oxnard Police Department said.
Police believe Asterita might have fallen off the boat and drowned, Young said. Also, police have found no evidence that would indicate foul play.
Police are awaiting toxicology reports to determine whether Asterita had been drinking before he drowned, Young said.
Blocker reported Asterita missing Wednesday at 1 p.m., Young said, adding that Blocker reported that he became concerned because he had not seen Asterita since Tuesday night when Asterita decided to sleep on the recreational fishing boat.
Oxnard police and the Channel Islands Harbor Patrol searched the area but did not find Asterita, Young said.
At 3 p.m., Blocker, suspecting that something might have happened to Asterita, dove beneath his boat and found the body, Young said.
A diving team consisting of members of the Oxnard Police and Fire departments retrieved the body, Young said.
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