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TRABUCO : Man Found Dead in Canyon Reservoir

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The body of an unidentified Latino man, apparently a drowning victim, was found floating in a Trabuco Canyon reservoir early Wednesday, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department reported.

It was not determined how long the body had been in the reservoir near the intersection of Trabuco Canyon and Plano Trabuco roads, but Sheriff’s Department spokesman Richard J. Olson said it might been as long as three days. The 250-by-100-foot reservoir supplies irrigation water to the Sakaido Nursery.

“It’s a real shock,” nursery spokesman Mike Gutierrez said of the discovery by employees who were opening up the nursery about 7 a.m.

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Olson said divers pulled the body from the 20-foot-deep water about noon. The body of the man, estimated to be 20 years-old, was taken to the Orange County coroner’s office, and an autopsy was scheduled for today.

Olson said the autopsy will determine whether the man drowned or died of other causes. He did not rule out foul play but said the body had no outward signs of violence.

Employees initially feared that the man might have been a co-worker. But, Gutierrez said, no one recognized him.

Gutierrez said that despite signs that forbid swimming in the reservoir, the nursery has had an ongoing problem with young transients swimming and bathing.

“Now this happens,” Gutierrez said. “It’s hard to believe.”

A pile of clothing and personal belongings were found along the banks of the cement reservoir, Olson said. But investigators were unable to identify the victim. His fingerprints were being processed through the Cal-ID fingerprinting computer for possible identification.

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