SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — A late-night canoeing trip at Tomales Bay ended in tragedy after two people who left their campsite shortly before midnight were found dead Sunday.
According to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, Casey Flynn Melia, 36, and another individual had been camping at Tomales Bay when they decided to head out on the water by canoe.
The pair left their campsite shortly before midnight Saturday.
What began as a nighttime outing quickly became a search-and-rescue emergency when the two people failed to return the following morning.
Members of their camping party became concerned and contacted law enforcement, prompting emergency crews to begin searching the area.
Camping Party Raises Alarm After Pair Fails to Return
The decision to contact authorities came after the two canoeists did not come back to their campsite as expected.
Emergency personnel responded and immediately launched a search and rescue operation focused on locating the missing pair.
The search involved multiple agencies, with crews working in and around the waters and surrounding areas of Tomales Bay.
As the operation continued, rescuers eventually located the two individuals separately.
The circumstances surrounding their disappearance and what happened during their time on the water have not yet been released by authorities.
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Coast Guard Finds First Person
The U.S. Coast Guard located the first individual during the search. That person was transported to Bodega Bay in Sonoma County, where emergency personnel pronounced them dead.
Authorities have not released the identity of that individual.
The discovery marked a devastating turn in the search, but crews continued looking for Melia. A short time later, another search team located the second missing person.
National Park Service Finds Casey Flynn Melia
The National Park Service located Melia, who was found unresponsive. Melia was transported to Sacramento Landing, where they were later pronounced dead.
The two discoveries brought the search operation to an end, but investigators are still working to determine what happened during the overnight canoe trip.
At this point, authorities have not publicly identified a specific cause of death or explained what circumstances led to the pair being found.
Cause of Death Still Under Investigation
The official cause and manner of death remain pending, according to authorities. A forensic post-mortem examination is scheduled for later this week, along with routine toxicology testing.
Those examinations are expected to provide investigators with additional information as they work to understand the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Officials have not indicated whether foul play is suspected, and no additional details about the incident have been released.
The investigation remains active.
For now, authorities are focusing on establishing what happened between the time the two people left their campsite and when search crews ultimately found them.
Investigation Continues at Tomales Bay
The deaths have brought a tragic end to what had been a camping trip at Tomales Bay.
The fact that the pair left shortly before midnight and were later reported missing prompted a rapid response from emergency personnel, with multiple agencies participating in the search.
The Coast Guard and National Park Service were ultimately able to locate the missing individuals, but both were found deceased.
Authorities are expected to release additional information after the scheduled examinations are completed. Until then, investigators have not provided further details about the circumstances of the incident.
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