The Curry County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call regarding a body that was floating in the water near Jot’s Resort at the mouth of the Rogue River Saturday, December 26th. The caller stated he grabbed a metal pole and was trying to pull the body in before it got to the ocean.
Two Deputies launched the Sheriff’s Marine boat and met up with the caller near the old Saus Brothers Building just before the unmanned Coast Guard Station. Deputies were able to secure a line to the body and get the person to shore.
There was no identification on the body but Deputies recognized the person as 29 year old Hector Camarena from Redwood City California. Camarena had been contacted by Deputies at Lobster Creek Camp Ground about nine miles east of Gold Beach on November 21st. At that time, the Camp Host of Lobster Creek Campground had called 911 to say a man had dove into the water to pull Camarena out and that he had Camarena in his pick-up to get warm. Cal Ore Life Flight responded and transported Camarena to Curry General Hospital. The following day, Camarena was released from Curry General and a Deputy gave him a courtesy ride back to his vehicle at Lobster Creek Campground.
On Friday, December 11th, Deputies contacted the Lobster creek camp host after discovering that Camarena had been listed as a missing person on November 30th, eight days after their last contact with Camerana. A Forest Service officer had tagged Camarena’s vehicle and the vehicle was towed as abandoned on December 11th.
When Camarena was pulled from the river by deputies on December 26th, the Curry County District Attorney was notified and he requested an autopsy. It is unknown at this time how long Camarena had been in the river, where he went into the river and why he was in the river.
