October 30, 2021 - On Friday, October 29, 2021, Investigators from the Merced County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 5800 block of Worden Avenue in Merced for an object in a dairy lagoon which was possibly a body. During the initial investigation, investigators were able to determine that the object was in fact a body and the requested assistance from the Merced County Sheriff’s Office Water Rescue and Recovery team. Divers were able to retrieve a male body from the lagoon. Due to contaminates in the lagoon divers used a specialized contamination dive suit and the CAL-Fire Hazardous Materials response team assisted with decontaminating divers after retrieving the body.

Investigators are still investigating this incident and the name of the decedent is not being released at this time pending positive identification and notification to the next of kin.

If anyone has information regarding this incident, please call the Merced County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Bureau at (209) 385-7472 or the non-emergency line to the Sheriff’s Office at (209) 385-7445.

Source & photos: Merced County Sheriff's Office