Police seeking help regarding deceased man found in lake

The circumstances surrounding the 19-year-old body of Jason Eilola-Coye that was found floating in Canyon Lake almost three weeks ago, is under further investigation by Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station investigators.

The investigators are asking for the public’s help with any information on Jason’s whereabouts prior to March 14 when he was found deceased in the lake.

“At this time no foul play is suspected,” Sergeant Adam Heard of the Sheriff’s Department said. “Anyone with information is encouraged to call Investigator Chris Poznanski at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station at (951) 245-3300. This investigation is on-going.”

19-year-old Jason Eilola-Coye, who died of mysterious causes last month, was found floating in the North Ski Area of Canyon Lake. Police are trying to determine how he ended up there and how he died. Photo provided by Sheriff’s Department

Murrieta resident Diana Hart, Jason’s grandmother, is also reaching out for help in gathering information as to what happened to her grandson.

“Jason was last heard from on Feb. 26 and last seen on Feb. 28,” she said. “He was in Menifee and supposedly taken to Mental Health Urgent Care on Ramona Expressway in Perris by Menifee Police the afternoon of Feb. 28.”

She said they later found out he never checked into the urgent care there and there has been no sight of him since then.

“Anyone with any information please contact the investigator,” Diana said. “Foul play may not be suspected as there was no physical trauma and he did not drown. However, nothing about this makes sense. Still, no clothing or cell phone were found. All of his belongings were left at his friend’s home, which seems odd being his ID and bank cards were left behind.”

The deceased body was found by a local fisherman on March 14 floating in the lake near the North Ski Area off Vacation Drive near Old Wrangler Road. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department responded to the location and its investigators assumed the investigation.

Diana, in a Facebook post, said Jason had been living in Lake Elsinore, but had been in Menifee and, most recently, in Perris. She had made a missing person report with the Menifee Police Department.

The body was found near the North Ski Area parking lot dock. Authorities spent time there as part of the investigation.

This death is the third apparent drowning (or body found in the lake) in Canyon Lake in the last six months. Pablo Lopez, a 21-year-old man from Los Angeles, drowned while swimming in the North Ski Area in October. On Dec. 9, an elderly woman apparently fell off a dock at her house on Fair Weather Drive and drowned.