Body of missing San Francisco man found in Mendocino County lake

Authorities said no foul play is suspected in the death of a missing San Francisco man found Wednesday morning in Mendocino County.

The body of Joshua Piszczek, 35, was spotted by a deputy around 7:18 a.m. in a lake at Laytonville’s Mendocino Magic campground, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said. Piszczek was attending a music festival at the 600-acre Branscomb Road property when he went missing.

He had gone for a swim in the lake sometime Saturday, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Capt. Gregory Van Patten said.

Piszczek’s girlfriend told authorities she last saw him sitting on the dock moored to the shore, but he was gone a short time later. She and other music festival attendees searched the campground. They thought he might have left the lakeshore on foot, Van Patten said.

Piszczek was reported missing Monday evening, two days after he disappeared. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office launched a search with the help of 12 area agencies. Search efforts included divers, kayaks, inflatable boats and a helicopter.

Piszczek was quickly identified by his driver’s license photo when he was found Wednesday, Van Patten said. An autopsy is pending.

You can reach Staff Writer Susan Minichiello at 707-521-5216 or susan.minichiello@pressdemocrat.com.