Two brothers, aged 18 and 45, were found dead in the Trinity River in Humboldt County, California, officials announced. Lex Rincon, 45, and Krishna 'Ganesh' Rincon, 18, were recovered from the water near Willow Creek on Wednesday.
The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office was initially dispatched to Tagmeyer Beach at 10:14 a.m. on Wednesday after a witness reported seeing a man struggling in the river current the previous day. Deputies found the brothers' vehicle at the river's edge and initiated an extensive search. Two bodies were eventually pulled from the water.
Authorities stated that the deaths appeared consistent with drowning, although the investigation is ongoing. Autopsies were scheduled for early this week.
A friend, Gregory Terry, described the deaths as a "devastating loss" to the brothers' friends and family. He characterized Lex Rincon as "unrelentingly kind, determined, creative and funny" and expressed privilege in having known both brothers. Terry initiated an online fundraiser to assist the family, many of whom live in New York, with travel expenses to Humboldt County to recover the bodies.