Screenshot via WSVN-TV 7News
Audio By Carbonatix
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.
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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.
