Body in Santa Ana River identified

A body found Wednesday floating in the Santa Ana River near Huntington Beach has been identified as a 20-year-old Santa Ana man.

Jim Amormino, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, said a pair of fishermen found the body of Johnny Sandoval at 2:05 p.m. Wednesday. An autopsy was conducted today, but the cause of death has not been determined, Amormino said.

Sandoval’s body had no obvious signs of trauma and may have been in the water for several days, Amormino said. A missing person report for him was filed with the Santa Ana Police Department earlier in the week.

Amormino said he didn’t know if the recent storms had played a role in Sandoval’s death, but wouldn’t rule it out.

“The water’s cold,” he said. “It’s been high and the water is cold, so it’s possible.”