SAN RAFAEL, CA — Two people were found dead Sunday in Marin County after disappearing during a midnight canoe trip from a Tomales Bay campsite. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office said the pair had left shortly before midnight Saturday and never came back.
One of the victims was identified as Casey Flynn Melia, 36. The second person has not yet been named publicly.
Officials said the two had been camping at Tomales Bay with a group. When the rest of the camping party realized they had not returned by the next morning, they contacted law enforcement and a search began.
Search teams respond after the pair failed to return from the water
Emergency crews launched a search and rescue operation as soon as the missing campers were reported. The effort involved the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Park Service, which helped locate both people.
Authorities said the first individual found was taken to Bodega Bay in Sonoma County, where emergency personnel pronounced that person dead. A short time later, the National Park Service located Melia, who was unresponsive when found.
Melia was transported to Sacramento Landing and later pronounced dead. Officials have not released details about where on the water the pair were found or how long they had been missing before search teams reached them.
Timeline points to a late departure from the campsite
Investigators said the trip began late Saturday night, when the two campers decided to leave the campsite by canoe shortly before midnight. Their departure and lack of return triggered concern by sunrise.
The fact that they were camping at Tomales Bay is central to the investigation because the group appears to have noticed the pair’s absence only after daylight the next morning. That gap set off the call to authorities and the subsequent rescue response.
Officials have not said why the pair left the campsite at that hour or what route they intended to take. No additional information has been released about the canoe, weather, or water conditions at the time of the trip.
Cause and manner of death remain under investigation
The Marin County Sheriff’s Office said the official cause and manner of death are still pending. A forensic post-mortem examination is scheduled, along with routine toxicology testing later this week.
That means investigators have not yet determined whether a medical event, drowning, or another factor led to the deaths. Officials have not announced any sign of foul play.
The case remains active, and authorities said no further details are available right now. The sheriff’s office has not said when it expects to complete the medical review or whether additional agency findings will be released afterward.
Tomales Bay becomes the focus after the fatal outing
Tomales Bay, a popular camping and boating area in Marin County, is now at the center of the inquiry. The location matters because the campers left from shore and were later found dead after a short trip that should have ended by morning.
For rescuers, the response required coordination across county and federal agencies. The Coast Guard and National Park Service both played roles in locating the pair, underscoring how quickly a routine outing turned into a recovery operation.
Authorities have not said whether the canoe was recovered, whether anyone else was with the pair on the water, or whether they encountered trouble before disappearing.
What investigators have confirmed so far
So far, officials have confirmed only a small set of facts: two campers left Tomales Bay shortly before midnight, failed to return, and were later found dead. One was Casey Flynn Melia, 36, and the other has not yet been publicly identified.
The Marin County Sheriff’s Office is still waiting on post-mortem and toxicology results. Until those tests are complete, the reason for the deaths remains unresolved.
Investigators are treating the case as open and active. For now, the confirmed record ends with the discovery, the transport of both bodies, and the promise of more medical findings later this week.
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