Authorities were working Monday to determine if a body found over the weekend was that of a 42-year-old man who was last seen earlier this month in Cabazon.
Benjamin Cole was last seen July 9 at his residence in the 51000 block of Ida Avenue, near Peach Street, on the south edge of the unincorporated community, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Around 12:30 p.m. Saturday, a search-and-rescue team located a “deceased subject matching the description of Benjamin Cole,” sheriff’s Lt. Deirdre Vickers said. However, the sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau has not yet confirmed the person’s identity.
On Saturday, sheriff’s officials announced on social media that Cole had been located, but Vickers said that post was made “before confirmation was received,” so it remained unclear if the body located over the weekend was Cole.
Sheriff’s officials described Cole as 5 feet, 11 inches tall, weighing 155 pounds, with medium length black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a dark colored shirt and pants, officials said.
Anyone with information was urged to contact sheriff’s dispatchers at 800-950-2444.