On Tuesday August 29, 2023, at approximately 11:41 AM the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, Coroner Division was contacted by the California Highway Patrol – Marin Office regarding the discovery of an unconscious / unresponsive person located within the San Francisco Bay waters northeast of the Golden Gate Bridge by a passing boat.  The United States Coast Guard - Station Golden Gate sector was notified and immediately responded to the provided area and located the body of a lifeless male floating in the water.  The subject was recovered from the water and transported to Station Golden Gate located in Sausalito, CA to awaiting paramedics, who pronounced the subject deceased at 11:12 AM without providing any resuscitate aid due to the subject’s presenting physiologic condition.  The remains exhibited signs of advanced decomposition, prolonged exposure to the aquatic environment and appreciable depredation.  

The subject’s remains were unidentifiable and unknown at the time of his death pronouncement without any identification located upon his person.  Through arduous investigation completed by the Coroner Division staff working collaboratively and concurrently with the San Jose Police Department; California Highway Patrol – Marin Office; Department of Justice Missing and Unidentified Persons Section; and the Golden Gate Bridge Authority the subject was positively scientifically identified on Thursday August 31, 2023.  Next of kin were then located, contacted, and notified of his discovery and passing.

The decedent has been positively identified as:

Yohanes Stefanos KIDANE, a 22-year-old male from San Jose, CA formerly from Webster, NY.

On Friday September 01, 2023, a forensic postmortem examination was completed to the extent lawfully required to establish the truthful and accurate cause of death.  The cause of death was determined to be from blunt impact injuries with drowning as a significant contributing condition. The mode of death was determined to be suicide. The cause and manner of death was concluded by the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, Coroner Division based upon the totality of the death investigation to date in addition to the information provided by the California Highway Patrol – Marin Office and the San Jose Police Department. 

Any further questions regarding the incident should be directed to the California Highway Patrol – Marin Office, and San Jose Police Department.

The Marin County Sheriff’s Office and personnel of the Coroner Division offers our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Kidane.

CONTACT

Roger G. Fielding

Chief Deputy Coroner

415-473-6043