We've been following this story. Unfortunately, there is no happy ending for Erik Lippmann, of Santa Cruz, CA, or his family. His body has been found. Our condolences to his family and friends. This has been a very tough Autism Awareness Month, hasn't it?
— An autistic Santa Cruz man missing for more than a week was found dead at Marina State Beach this morning, according to authorities.
Erik Lippmann, 30, walked away from his Seabright-area home April 21. People have searched relentlessly for Lippmann, who liked to walk through parks, forested areas and beaches, since his disappearance.
Around 8 a.m. today, someone found Lippmann's body on the beach near a sand plant north of Marina.
"He washed ashore," Santa Cruz police spokesman Zach Friend said.
Monterey County sheriff's deputies and coroner's officials responded. Deputies are trying to determine if how Lippmann died.
His body was found about 200 yards south of the sand plant off Lapis Road just above the surf line, deputies said. There were no obvious signs of the cause of death, deputies said.
The body was nude and a search of the area didn't turn up clothing or identification, which slowed efforts to identify the man. Authorities confirmed he was Lippmann early Thursday afternoon, Friend said.
Wednesday, Santa Cruz police said they believed the missing 30-year-old was no longer in the county.
The Monterey County Herald contributed to this report.
From the Mercury News
— An autistic Santa Cruz man missing for more than a week was found dead at Marina State Beach this morning, according to authorities.
Erik Lippmann, 30, walked away from his Seabright-area home April 21. People have searched relentlessly for Lippmann, who liked to walk through parks, forested areas and beaches, since his disappearance.
Around 8 a.m. today, someone found Lippmann's body on the beach near a sand plant north of Marina.
"He washed ashore," Santa Cruz police spokesman Zach Friend said.
Monterey County sheriff's deputies and coroner's officials responded. Deputies are trying to determine if how Lippmann died.
His body was found about 200 yards south of the sand plant off Lapis Road just above the surf line, deputies said. There were no obvious signs of the cause of death, deputies said.
The body was nude and a search of the area didn't turn up clothing or identification, which slowed efforts to identify the man. Authorities confirmed he was Lippmann early Thursday afternoon, Friend said.
Wednesday, Santa Cruz police said they believed the missing 30-year-old was no longer in the county.
The Monterey County Herald contributed to this report.