Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release: 

On Thursday, November 12, 2015, a Humboldt County Deputy Coroner responded to the Rio Dell river bar for a dead body located in the Eel River. The body has been positively identified as 44 year old Aaron Coffelt, of Rio Dell. The Rio Dell Police Department was notified that Coffelt was missing after he and some friends were drinking under the bridge. The Rio Dell Fire Department and Scotia Fire Department responded to the river bar and assisted with the investigation. It was determined the people drinking with Coffelt left the river bar but Coffelt didn’t. It is unclear how Coffelt’s body ended up in the river. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, 2015 to determine the cause of death.

Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.