Image via WikipediaPassersby found a
dog sitting near a parked car by the Aqueduct in
Palmdale in the
Antelope Valley on Wednesday afternoon. Concerned, they checked the tag on the dog's collar and called the number listed.
The person who answered the phone was concerned that if the dog had been left unattended, that it meant their family member was missing. Palmdale Sheriff's Station was then called.
The missing man was Thomas Hayes, a 51-year old correctional officer for the
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
His family members said he liked to walk the family dog on a path along the Aqueduct, and that in the past, he had told them on a few occasions he had to enter the water to get the dog out.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies went to the area near where his car had been left and and began a search.
"Deputies continued to check along the path of the Aqueduct and nearby areas," said Sheriff's Homicide
Lieutenant John Corina, who also supervises
Missing Persons cases. "The man's information as a missing person was put into law enforcement databases and notifications were made, other databases were checked for mention of him, and multiple notifications were made with people all along the Aqueduct, including employees who work there," he said.
Emergency Services Detail paramedic deputy divers with the Sheriff's Special Enforcement Bureau were called in to check the Aqueduct. They did not find the missing man, but did locate two stolen cars and a gun in the Aqueduct.
The search continued, and on Friday morning (09/30/11), Palmdale
sheriff's deputies found the body of the missing man in the Aqueduct at a pumping station 30 miles south of where his car had been found.
Preliminarily, Sheriff's Homicide investigators believe the cause of death to be a tragic accidental drowning. "There is no evidence of foul play," said Lt. Corina.
The official cause of man's death will be determined by the Office of the
Los Angeles County Coroner.
Image via WikipediaPassersby found a dog sitting near a parked car by the Aqueduct in Palmdale in the Antelope Valley on Wednesday afternoon. Concerned, they checked the tag on the dog's collar and called the number listed.
The person who answered the phone was concerned that if the dog had been left unattended, that it meant their family member was missing. Palmdale Sheriff's Station was then called.
The missing man was Thomas Hayes, a 51-year old correctional officer for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
His family members said he liked to walk the family dog on a path along the Aqueduct, and that in the past, he had told them on a few occasions he had to enter the water to get the dog out.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies went to the area near where his car had been left and and began a search.
"Deputies continued to check along the path of the Aqueduct and nearby areas," said Sheriff's Homicide Lieutenant John Corina, who also supervises Missing Persons cases. "The man's information as a missing person was put into law enforcement databases and notifications were made, other databases were checked for mention of him, and multiple notifications were made with people all along the Aqueduct, including employees who work there," he said.
Emergency Services Detail paramedic deputy divers with the Sheriff's Special Enforcement Bureau were called in to check the Aqueduct. They did not find the missing man, but did locate two stolen cars and a gun in the Aqueduct.
The search continued, and on Friday morning (09/30/11), Palmdale sheriff's deputies found the body of the missing man in the Aqueduct at a pumping station 30 miles south of where his car had been found.
Preliminarily, Sheriff's Homicide investigators believe the cause of death to be a tragic accidental drowning. "There is no evidence of foul play," said Lt. Corina.
The official cause of man's death will be determined by the Office of the Los Angeles County Coroner. 
3 comments:
Thanks for sharing these details. I am no longer local to Antelope Valley and will not pay $300+ to the AVPress to read one current article. Crazy. I used to work with the victim of this story and was sadden to hear of his accident. Again, thanks for sharing it.
Cary H., West Dundee, IL.
Tom was a good friend back in High School.I hate to hear of this tragic news. God Bless his family. He will be sadly missed.
T. L. Hayes was an amazing man all around. Knowing he went in to save his dog wasn't a surprise, he has been a hero in every part of his life. I will miss him greatly!
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