A 29-year-old man was found dead in the Santa Cruz River Saturday — a day after heavy rainfall throughout the Tucson area.
Ernesto Ojeda was reported missing on Friday evening. His family was concerned because he was near the Julian Wash earlier in the day, where water levels rose due to monsoon activity, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said. Ojeda functioned at a 10-year-old cognitive level due to developmental disabilities.
Earlier in the day, before 3:30 p.m., reports of a man being swept down the Julian Wash, near Julian Drive and Palo Verde Road, came in. Search crews and air support checked various spots along the wash and the Santa Cruz River for several hours before the search was suspended.
Tucson Fire Department personnel keep watch on the rain-swollen Santa Cruz River at the Silverlake Road bridge, on the lookout for at least one person reported swept down the Julian Wash on July 17, 2026.
Efforts picked back up Saturday morning after the rain receded, and just before 1 p.m., Ojeda’s body was found in the Santa Cruz River, near the Interstate 10 and Interstate 19 interchange.
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The Sheriff’s Department says there were no signs of suspicious circumstances, but the Pima County medical examiner’s office will determine the cause of death.
The Arizona Department of Safety, along with the Tucson Fire and Tucson Police departments, assisted in the search.
Photos: Monsoon 2026 in Tucson
An aircraft flies towards several bolts of lightning striking down as a monsoon storms rolls through southeast of Tucson, Ariz., July 18, 2026. The storms skirted the city for the most part.
Vail, Ariz., gets a light show as a monsoon storm rolls over the southern edge of the town, just southeast of Tucson, Ariz., July 18, 2026.
A lightning bolt hits in Vail, Ariz., as the monsoon storm largely skirts to the southeast of Tucson, Ariz., July 18, 2026.
A fork of monsoon lightning finds the ground as the cell moves east passing just to the southeast of Tucson, Ariz., July 18, 2026.
A monsoon boils up west of Tucson, Ariz., dropping a little bit of rain on the extreme edge of the city, July 18, 2026.
Catlow Shipek uses a shop-vac to suck up water at the home of Julius Schlosburg after a monsoon storm in Tucson, Ariz. on July 17, 2026. An afternoon storm flooded Schlosburg’s street and home at S. Euclid Ave. and E. 34th street.
Lisa Shipek carries a box with a wet bottom out of the home of Julius Schlosburg as she helps him clean up after his street flooded after a monsoon storm in Tucson on July 17. An afternoon storm flooded Schlosburg’s street and home at South Euclid Avenue and East 34th Street.
Julius Schlosburg sweeps water out of his bedroom after a monsoon storm flooded his street and home near S. Euclid Ave. and E. 34th street in Tucson, Ariz. on July 17, 2026.
A cyclist rides by Tucson Fire Department personnel monitoring the Santa Cruz River at the Silverlake Road bridge following a report of at least one person swept down the Julian Wash following heavy rains in Tucson on July 17.
Tucson Fire Department personnel keep watch on the rain swollen Santa Cruz River at the Silverlake Road bridge, on the lookout for at least one person reported swept down the Julian Wash, Tucson, Ariz., July 17, 2026.
Two men try to rig a tow on a stalled car in a side wash at Acacia Club Lane and Country Club Road in the midst of afternoon monsoon storm dropping heavy rain, Tucson, Ariz., July 17, 2026.
A man runs for cover as heavy rain showers pour down on Southern Arizona, South Sixth Avenue, Tucson, Ariz., July 17, 2026.
A pedestrian braves the wet, colorful night, walking down Stone at Congress as a monsoon storm drops a steady rain over Tucson, Ariz., July 16, 2026.
The Lion of Judah mural by artist Joe Pagac reflects off a pool of rain water along West Ruthrauff Road, Tucson, Ariz., July 16, 2026.
A small rainbow peeks through a sea of storm clouds, West Ruthrauff Road, Tucson, Arizona, July 16, 2026.
Two women laugh as they walk through puddles of water along North Fourth Ave during a monsoon storm in Tucson, Ariz. on July 13, 2026.
A pedestrian lifts her head up towards the sky to feel the raindrops while waiting for the light to change at the intersection of North Fourth Ave and West Sixth Street during a monsoon storm in Tucson, Ariz. on July 13, 2026.
A pedestrian walks along North Fourth Ave during a monsoon storm in Tucson, Ariz. on July 13, 2026.
A jogger makes his way across the intersection of North Fourth Ave and Sixth Street during a monsoon storm in Tucson, Ariz. on July 13, 2026.
Monsoon lighting cuts the sky over Horse, a sculpture in the Cactus Courtyard on a stormy evening for Chillin’ at the Chul, Tucson, Ariz., July 11, 2026.
A bolt of lightning strikes just southwest of Vail, Ariz., part of a monsoon storm cell that moved mostly around the greater Tucson area, July 9, 2026.
A lighting bolt and a downburst of heavy rain hits in the eastern reaches of the Santa Catalinas Foothills, part of several monsoon cells that hit sporadically around the valley, Tucson, Ariz., June 25, 2026.
Sunlight breaks through stormy clouds in Southern Arizona, North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Ariz., July 15, 2026.
A pair enjoys a rainy afternoon stroll around Brandi Fenton Memorial Park, 3482 East River Road, Tucson, Ariz., July 12, 2026.
A cyclist rides his bike to shelter minutes before storm showers roll through Tohono Transit Center, Tucson Mall Drive, Tucson, Ariz., July 11, 2026.
A pair sprints to shelter as massive storm showers roll through Tohono Transit Center, Tucson Mall Drive, Tucson, Ariz., July 11, 2026.
Maximiliano Fimbres uses a chainsaw to cut through the trunk of a fallen tree at Michigan Street and S. Park Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on June 18, 2026.Â
Power lines lay across S. Park Ave near Irvington Road in Tucson, Ariz. on June 18, 2026. A monsoon storm on Wednesday night brought heavy rains and wind to the south area of Tucson.
A worker looks back at the downed power lines laying across S. Park Ave near Irvington Road in Tucson, Ariz. on June 18, 2026. A monsoon storm on Wednesday night brought heavy rains and wind to the south area of Tucson.
Crews work on fixing multiple fallen power lines near East Ajo Way and Benson Highway after storm showers hit Tucson on Wednesday afternoon, June 18, 2026.
Multiple fallen power lines hang near East Ajo Way and Benson Highway after storm showers hit Tucson on Wednesday afternoon, June 18, 2026.
Crews work on fixing multiple fallen power lines near East Ajo Way and Benson Highway after storm showers hit Tucson on Wednesday afternoon, June 18, 2026.
Crews work on fixing multiple fallen power lines near East Ajo Way and Benson Highway after storm showers hit Tucson on Wednesday afternoon, June 18, 2026.
Crews work on fixing multiple fallen power lines near East Ajo Way and Benson Highway after storm showers hit Tucson on Wednesday afternoon, June 18, 2026.
A pedestrian dashes through the monsoon rain pelting down on the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Congress Street, Tucson, Ariz., June 17, 2026. A line of storms moved slowly over the valley dropping rain, at times heavy, some wind and a few lightning bolts.
Pedestrians team up to share rare umbrellas as heavy rain washes through downtown Tucson, Ariz., June 17, 2026.
A pedestrian rides his bike through rain showers, East University Boulevard, Tucson, Ariz., June 17, 2026.
A pedestrian uses two hands to control her umbrella during a monsoon storm whipping wind and rain through Sixth Avenue in downtown Tucson, Ariz., June 17, 2026.
A large rainbow forms after storm showers hit Tucson, North Oracle Road, Ariz., June 17, 2026.
A pedestrian takes shelter in a building’s overhang, hiding from the rain while waiting for the crossing light to change at Scott Avenue and Congress Street, Tucson, Ariz., June 17, 2026.
A pair of pedestrians brave the heavy rain, strolling along Scott Avenue under the mural on the wall of Cobra Arcade Tucson, Ariz., June 17, 2026.
Heavy monsoon rain pounds down on the foot and vehicle traffic at Scott Avenue and Congress Street, Tucson, Ariz., June 17, 2026.
A woman walks along N. Stone Ave as her reflection is seen in a puddle of water after an early morning monsoon storm in Tucson, Ariz. on June 15, 2026.
