A body recovered from the American River this morning has been identified as that of 59-year-old Mark Lauchli, who was reported missing last month.
Lauchli was last seen about 9:30 a.m. Feb. 12 at his home in the 6900 block of McQuillan Circle in the Tahoe Park area. He reportedly was distraught and had left a note that he was going to the American River area, according to a Sacramento Police Department news release. His vehicle was found unoccupied near La Riviera Drive and Howe Avenue later the same day, prompting his family to contact police and file a missing person report.
On several occasions Sacramento police marine, air and patrol units searched the area for Lauchli, along with several other agencies including the Drowning Accident Rescue Team, Sacramento County park rangers, Sacramento County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, California Office of Emergency Services and the Sacramento Fire Department. The searches failed to locate Lauchli.
At 7:02 a.m. today, Sacramento police responded to a report of a body found near the 7500 block of College Town Drive. A worker at the Sacramento City E.A. Fairbairn Water Treatment Plant spotted the body about 20 feet off the river's south shoreline, police said.
Sacramento Fire Department crews, DART and the Sacramento County Coroner's Office responded to assist in the investigation.
Determination of the cause of death is pending completion of the coroner's investigation, but police said nothing surrounding the incident appears suspicious.
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