Two brothers, aged 18 and 45, were found dead in the Trinity River in Humboldt County, California, on Wednesday. Officials are investigating the deaths, which currently appear consistent with accidental drowning.
Humboldt County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to Tagmeyer Beach around 10:14 a.m. following reports of a man struggling in the water. A vehicle was found parked at the river's edge upon their arrival. Deputies conducted an extensive search of the river and the adjacent river bar.
Two bodies were recovered from the water and later identified as 45-year-old Arcata resident Lex Rincon and his 18-year-old brother, Krishna Rincon, also known as Ganesh, who was from New York. Autopsies are pending.
Family members, who are primarily based in New York, face the prospect of traveling to Humboldt County for services. A friend of Lex Rincon, Gregory Terry, described him as "unrelentingly kind, determined, creative, and funny," and his brother Ganesh as "gentle and curious." Terry expressed heartbreak over their deaths, stating, "I am heartbroken by their deaths, as are all that knew and loved them."
The family has initiated a crowdfunding campaign to assist with expenses during this difficult time, noting the cost of last-minute travel.