Missing Miami Beach Swimmer's Death Ruled Accidental Drowning

Victor Castaneda Jr., 19, disappeared while saving his younger sister from a rip current at South Pointe Beach on November 9.

By Alex DeLuca and Naomi Feinstein

November 19, 2024

Image: victor castaneda and his sister pose on a the beach

A human head that washed ashore on a Miami area beach earlier this week belongs to 19-year-old Victor Castaneda, who vanished in a rip current on Saturday. Screenshot via WSVN-TV 7News

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New Times has obtained an investigative report from the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner stating that 19-year-old Victor Castaneda Jr.'s death has been ruled an accidental drowning.

Castaneda vanished while swimming with his sister in Miami Beach on Saturday, November 9, after a strong rip current pulled the siblings out to sea.

Bystanders at South Pointe Beach were able to rescue Castaneda's sister after he shouted for help, but they were unable to reach Castaneda, who'd pushed his sister toward the shore to save her.

Miami Beach Fire Rescue and police promptly led a large-scale, three-hour search for Castaneda, but found no traces of him.

On Tuesday, November 13, a beach worker discovered a human head that had apparently washed ashore that morning behind the Key Colony II Ocean Sound condominium in Key Biscayne.

Three days later, the medical examiner confirmed that the severed head was that of Castaneda, whose body has not been recovered.

The medical examiner's report indicates that Castaneda was identified via dental records. New Times has requested the full autopsy report.

Editor's note 1:30 p.m. 11/19/24: This story was originally published on November 15 and updated on November 19 to include new information.

Alex DeLuca is a Miami New Times staff writer who focuses on news, crime, and public safety, education, and cannabis. Prior to joining New Times in June 2020, Alex worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel and freelanced for The Appeal. She holds a bachelor's degree from the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida.

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Naomi Feinstein is a staff writer of Miami New Times where she primarily focuses on news. Naomi started her career with New Times as a summer intern in 2019, then returned as a fellow in August 2022 before joining the staff full-time in February 2023. She graduated from University of Miami where she contributed to the student-run newspaper, the Miami Hurricane. She holds a master’s degree and graduated with honors from the Columbia School of Journalism. In 2021, Naomi was recognized as the College Journalist of the Year from the Society of Professional Journalists of Florida, and she placed second for Best General News Story in the 2021 Pinnacle Awards.