Roseville Business Owner’s Body Reported Discovered

The body of Stephen Pease of Roseville who went missing after checking out of the Surf and Sand Lodge in Fort Bragg on November 3 was reported discovered floating along the northern coast of California. 

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s office issued the following news release. Family contacts have confirmed the identity, although officials are awaiting forensic testing.

On 11.23.13, at approximately 1230 hours, recreational divers were swimming in the Pacific Ocean near the shore in the area of milepost marker 3.89 South Highway 1, Gualala, when they located the floating body of a deceased person.

The divers called the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The Sonoma County Sheriff Helicopter (Henry 1), members of the South Coast Volunteer Fire Department, a California Highway Patrol Officer, and a California Department of Fish and Wildlife Warden also responded to assist with the recovery of the decedent.

The warden donned a wetsuit and swam out to the decedent and pulled him to the shore. Due to the height and steepness of the cliff it was not possible to carry the decedent up to the roadway. A Sonoma County Deputy Sheriff and a South Coast Firefighter were suspended under the helicopter and lowered to the decedent. They were able to place the decedent’s remains in a litter and they were moved to an open field near the roadway with the helicopter.

The male decedent appears to have been in the water for more than a few days and no identification was located. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the identity of the decedent at this time.

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office wishes to gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Highway Patrol, and South Coast Fire Department.