Press release from Eureka Police Department:

On Wednesday July 3rd, at about 12:55 PM, occupants of a vehicle traveling southbound over the Eureka Slough Bridge, saw a man jump off the bridge. It appeared that the male did a back flip. It is unknown whether the actions were intentional or it was kinetic motion necessitated by an accidental fall.  The witness pulled in to the Target parking lot to investigate and saw the subject standing on the sandbar between the two channels. He was waving his hands above his head, which gave the witness the impression he did not suffer severe injury. The witness called EPD. 

Several patrol officers were dispatched, as well as a fire engine that was in the vicinity. The subject was not located. 

At about 3:38 PM, a subject kayaking in the slough discovered a deceased male, floating in the water, about 100 yards from the Eureka Slough Bridge. Eureka Police Officers located the deceased person and contacted the HCSO boat patrol. The boat patrol recovered the body.

The deceased has been identified as 36 year old Edward Conoboy from Arcata.  This incident is being investigated by the Humboldt County Coroner’s office as either a suicide or accidental drowning.  The Eureka Police Department’s Investigations unit is assisting the Coroner’s office.  We are looking for witnesses who may have been in contact with Conoboy earlier in the day or anyone else who may have seen activity on the bridge or along the shoreline of the slough near the bridge.

Please contact Senior Investigator Ron Harpham at the Eureka police Department. 441-4305.