Crime & Safety
Whale-Watching Tour Spots Body Of Man Missing From Santa Cruz County
The 54-year-old previously was reported missing, and his car and belongings were found in Davenport. [Breaking]
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA – A body spotted during a whale-watching tour off the coast near Moss Landing late last week has been identified as 54-year-old Shariat Madari Babak, according to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office.
The tour group was at Salinas River State Beach where they saw a body in the water and reported it to the U.S. Coast Guard around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, sheriff's officials said.
A dive team from the sheriff's office was also notified and responded to the scene with Coast Guard personnel.
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The body was located about 2 miles off the coast with help from a Monterey fire boat crew and California Highway Patrol helicopter unit, sheriff's officials said.
Babak was a reported missing person and his vehicle was found with some of his belongings in Davenport, a community in Santa Cruz County, according to sheriff's officials.
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The coroner's office determined the body was Babak based on his fingerprints, sheriff's officials said.
--Bay City News/File photo
