Body of Drowning Victim Is Identified as Homeless Man
The body of a drowned man found by joggers on the beach in Venice has been identified as a 23-year-old Los Angeles resident who had been reported missing by his mother one week ago , authorities said.
Fingerprints were used to identify Reginald Ellis Hendrix, said Det. Peter Waack of the Los Angeles Police Department Pacific division. Hendrix had been living at a homeless shelter in downtown Los Angeles, said his mother, Vivyene Jacks.
The coroner’s office reported that Hendrix had accidentally drowned, authorities said.
Jacks last heard from her son Jan. 22 when she said he told her that he had checked out of the homeless facility. She said the two spoke on the phone each day. When he didn’t call the next day, she called authorities.
She said her son had been depressed because he could not find a job because he had been in prison.
On Wednesday, joggers found his body in the surf about 4:30 p.m., Waack said.
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