Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Body of Berkeley Man Found in Bay Near Oakland


By Doug Oakley
Staff Writer
Bay Area News Group
doakley@bayareanewsgroup.com
This article first published on Dec. 31, 2012
BERKELEY -- A 59-year-old man who disappeared from a residential care home in Berkeley was found dead in the Oakland Marina near Jack London Square on Saturday. 

The man was identified Monday as Richard Rice. 

Employees and residents of Royal Colony in Berkeley on Alcatraz Avenue last saw Rice on Friday, Berkeley police spokeswoman Jenn Coats said. The 32-bed facility, for people with mental health issues, has no recent complaints or violations from the state. 

Employees reported him missing Sunday morning, Coats said. 

"They said it was not unusual for him to go out walking, and that their policy is that if someone is gone 24 hours, they report it to police," Coats said. 

Oakland police do not suspect foul play. Authorities said it appears Rice did not drown and was not in the water a long time when he was found. The exact cause of death has yet to be determined, according to police. 

They are not sure where he entered the water, whether on the Oakland or Alameda side of the marina. 

Oakland police on Saturday received a call at 9:06 a.m. of a possible body in the water near the marina. When officers and medical personnel arrived, they found Rice's body, police said. 

He was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Doug Oakley covers Berkeley. Contact him at 510-843-1408. Follow him at Twitter.com/douglasoakley.

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