Body Found in Kelp Identified as Canoeist
A body found floating face-down in a kelp bed seven miles off the Oxnard coastline has been identified as that of missing canoeist Scott Sullenger, the Ventura County medical examiner’s office said Saturday.
Sullenger’s body was spotted Friday afternoon by the crew of a commercial fishing vessel halfway to Anacapa Island, county sheriff’s officials said.
Sullenger’s family later confirmed that clothes, a wristwatch and crucifix found on the body were Sullenger’s.
Final identification was made Saturday morning using dental records, said Craig Stevens, a senior deputy coroner. An autopsy concluded that Sullenger accidentally drowned, Stevens said.
Sullenger, 35, was one of six men in an outrigger canoe that capsized Jan. 3 outside Channel Islands Harbor. Sullenger of Oxnard swam off in search of help and was lost. A second man, John Deblin, 50, died of hypothermia while clinging to the outrigger.
“Until you have some kind of closure, you always have some hope,” said John Partridge, Sullenger’s brother-in-law. “This definitely brings it to an end.”
A memorial service for Sullenger will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Channel Islands Vineyard Christian Fellowship on Holser Walk in Oxnard. A private burial will follow in Ventura.
James A. Reardon Mortuary in Oxnard is handling the arrangements.
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