Your Navy

Body found near California island is missing Navy worker

By The Associated Press

Jun 18, 2015

A sign warns visitors of the dangers involved when entering the seaside hills of San Clemente Island, where North America's rarest bird calls home Wednesday, July 17, 2013. In the decade since the Navy left the Puerto Rican island of Vieques, bombardments and live-fire trainings have grown exponentially on this windswept California island , which has special federal status because of its biological diversity. Since then, endangered species like the island fox, night lizard and loggerhead shrike have grown in number too, thriving alongside the blasts after nearing extinction. It's a phenomenon happening at military installations across the nation where endangered species are flourishing despite the drills.(AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

SAN DIEGO — A body found this week near a Southern California island is that of a Navy employee who vanished last October.

Authorities told the Los Angeles Times Wednesday that the man is Lee Racicot.

A recreational diver spotted the body 100 feet underwater Sunday near San Clemente Island, about 75 miles northwest of San Diego.

The cause of death hasn't been determined.

The 59-year-old Racicot was a civilian employee on the island, which has a Navy bombing range and is used for Marine and SEAL training.

The San Diego Union-Tribune says Racicot failed to show up for work a day after he apparently went out diving or snorkeling alone for fish.

A Navy and Coast Guard search was unsuccessful.

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