Sheriff's Coroner Investigates Possible Drowning

Man Last Seen Alive Swimming In White Rock Area

Update 08/10/2010: The decedent is James Jay Ryan (DOB 8/13/65). He was originally listed as 45-years old. His actual age at death was 44-years old. He would have turned 45 this Friday. The death has been classified as an accidental drowning. However, a toxicological screening is pending to determine if alcohol or drugs may have been a contributing factor to this death. 

Los Padres National Forest - August 9th, 2010

The Sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau is investigating the death of an Oxnard man found Sunday night in a swimming hole near White Rock Camp off Paradise Road.

At approximately 6:02pm on Sunday, August 8, 2010 the 45-year old man was reported missing to Sheriff’s Dispatchers. He was last seen between 2:15pm-2:45pm earlier that day diving off rocks and swimming in the White Rock swimming hole. Later, his friends discovered his chair and clothing near the water’s edge. The man was never seen leaving the swimming hole, so his friends began a search of the area. When they could not find him, they called Sheriff’s Deputies and a Los Padres National Forest Park Ranger.

The Sheriff’s Dive Team, Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue and County Fire Helicopter 309 were also summoned to expand the search. At approximately 11:11pm, members of the Sheriff’s Dive Team discovered the man’s body in deeper water beneath the jumping rock.

The death appears to be the result of an accident. However, the final cause of death will not be determined until the Sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau has concluded its investigation. The identity of the deceased individual will not be released until his next of kin is notified.

For more information regarding news related issues
please contact Drew Sugars, Public Information Officer.

Business Hours: (805) 681-4100
EMAIL:pio@sbsheriff.org