Tragedy struck the Tijuana River Channel as the San Diego Police Department recovered two bodies from its waters, igniting a homicide investigation after one was found with upper body trauma. As reported on the City of San Diego's official website, the discovery followed a report from U.S. Border Patrol officials to the San Diego Police Communications Center on February 21. The victims, caught in the recent flood's deadly embrace, were located the next day with the assistance of the U.S. Border Patrol's helicopter crew.
Officers from the Southern Division responded to the scene on the evening of the call. Still, their efforts were hindered by the river's strong currents, debris, and poor lighting conditions, which made the search too challenging. The search resumed on the morning of February 22, around 6:50 a.m., when officers found the bodies near a large pile of debris. Initial assessments by the San Diego Medical Examiner's office suggested that one of the males, Rodolfo Agosto Castillo-Ancona, a 36-year-old Hispanic male from Mexico, had suffered trauma indicative of homicide.
The second male's identity was withheld pending family notification and additional examination. The nature of his demise remains unclear, with no apparent signs of a crime detected on his body, as noted in a police news release. The San Diego Police Homicide Unit has taken the lead in the investigation as they wait for the Medical Examiner's Office to determine the exact cause of death for both individuals.
Authorities are faced with the mystery of whether the deaths are interconnected or coincidental, an answer that remains elusive amidst the chaos wrought by nature's fury. The police urge anyone with information about this case to contact the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
