Deputies with the Placer County Sheriff's Office responded to Granite Bay around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday after a report of a body near Doton's Point at Folsom Lake, where they found an adult male dead in just a few feet of water. His identity has not been released, and investigators have not yet determined a cause or manner of death.
According to the Placer Sheriff
, the department received the initial report of a body in the lake near Doton's Point before deputies located the man's remains in the shallow water. As reported by
ABC10
, the recovery took place in the Granite Bay section of the county. The man's name will be released only after his family has been notified, per the department's post.
Doton's Point is known for its unpaved multi-use trails and shoreline access that draw hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers and anglers, according to Komoot. The spot sits within the sprawling Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, which covers 17,718 acres and has 75 miles of shoreline, and draws over 2 million visitors annually, per America's State Parks.
Coroner's Unit Leads the Investigation
Under California Government Code Section 27491, the Placer County Sheriff's Office Coroner's Unit is legally required to investigate all sudden, unattended or unexpected deaths, oversee positive identifications and handle next-of-kin notifications, the sheriff's office notes. That mandate is now guiding the inquiry into Tuesday's discovery, though officials have made no determination yet on how the man died.
A separate identification tied to Folsom Lake involved a body recovered near Rattlesnake Bar that was identified as 22-year-old Victor Nguyen, who had been missing since being swept away in the American River in late April. That case is distinct from Tuesday's discovery at Doton's Point, but both recoveries underscore how the reservoir has repeatedly served as the endpoint for search efforts tied to the broader American River watershed.
A Lake With a Pattern of Water Emergencies
Fatal incidents along the Granite Bay shoreline are not new. A 37-year-old man drowned after submerging while swimming near the Granite Bay boat ramp, as ABC10 reported at the time — a case Hoodline also covered in prior Folsom Lake drowning coverage. In 2022, ABC10 detailed the recovery of a missing boater's body from the lake near Granite Bay after he fell off a personal watercraft over a Fourth of July weekend.
Folsom Lake presents natural hazards including drop-offs, submerged debris and cold water. State park rangers and local deputies share enforcement duties.
Local fire agencies have pushed prevention measures in response to the recurring emergencies. Free loaner life jackets are available at multiple Folsom Lake access points and nearby fire stations, including Folsom Fire Station 35, as part of regional drowning-prevention efforts detailed by the Folsom Times. Officials have not said whether the man found Tuesday was wearing one.
The Placer County Sheriff's Office has not released further details on the investigation. The man's identity, along with any determination on cause of death, is expected to follow once next of kin have been notified.
