By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Authorities identified the special needs man found dead in the Santa Cruz River one day after he was reported missing.
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The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said the body of 29-year-old Ernesto Ojeda was recovered near the Interstate 10 and Interstate 19 interchange around 1 p.m. on July 18.
The day before, crews responded to reports of a man swept away in the Julian Wash near South Julian Drive and South Palo Verde Road. The PCSD said crews assisted with the search.
Later that evening, Ojeda was reported missing by his family, and a separate search ensued. At the time, authorities were not sure if the man who was washed away was the same one who had been reported missing.
“His family was concerned for his safety because he had been near the wash earlier in the day, and storm activity had caused water levels in the Julian Wash to rise,“ the PCSD said in a release. “Ojeda had developmental disabilities and functioned at an approximate 10-year-old cognitive level.”
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Search efforts were resumed the morning of July 18, and Ojeda’s body was discovered.
The PCSD said there were no signs of suspicious circumstances.
A GoFundMe has been started to help Ojeda’s family with expenses. According to the drive, some of his family is homeless and lost most of their possessions in the flooding.
As of Tuesday, July 28, only $600 had been raised.
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