Body found in suitcase floating in California lake identified as 23-year-old man
Share and Follow

The body found stuffed inside a suitcase floating in Northern California’s Lake Merritt last month has been identified as authorities ask the public for help in solving the gruesome homicide.

Gabriel Gomez Raymundo, 23, was the victim found just before 11:00 a.m. on Oct. 31, the Oakland Police Department announced on Wednesday.

The suitcase was spotted adrift in Lake Merrit near the 1900 block of Lakeshore Avenue. At the time, police said the victim suffered unknown injuries. No updates on the injuries were provided Wednesday, though police are now calling the death a homicide.

Police released photos of Raymundo and offered a $10,000 reward in the hopes that the community could provide information about where the victim lived and worked, his associates and any tips surrounding his death.

HOUSTON MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING A MOM IN FRONT OF HER 3-YEAR-OLD SON HAS BEEN ARRESTED: OFFICIALS

gabriel gomez raymundo

Gabriel Gomez Raymundo, 23, was identified as the victim who was found stuffed inside a suitcase that was floating in Lake Merritt in California on Oct. 31. (Oakland Police Department)

Authorities did not provide any updates on how long the body had been in the suitcase or water. 

suitcase floating in Lake Merritt

Volunteers cleaning Lake Merritt in Oakland, California, discovered the suitcase on Oct. 31. (FOX2 KTVU)

Volunteers cleaning the lake first discovered the suitcase and the victim, who they said was stuffed inside in a fetal position.

FLORIDA MAN ALLEGEDLY KILLS MOM, HER BOYFRIEND AFTER JAIL RELEASE: ‘JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS FAILED’

authorities fishing out suitcase

It was unclear how long the suitcase was in the water. (FOX2 KTVU)

“We grabbed one end [of the suitcase] and we realized it was too heavy,” Kevin Shomo, one of the volunteers with Lake Merritt Institute, told FOX2 KTVU. “So, we pulled it close enough to us and we said, ‘Oh wow, this thing is heavy,’ so we unzipped it and that’s what we found.”

Authorities asked anyone with information about the case to contact the Oakland Police Department’s Homicide Section at (510) 238-3821 or the TIP LINE at (510) 238-7950.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
North Westside Jacksonville shooting leaves man dead

“2 Hospitalized After Shooting at Mississippi Way Block Party, LCPD Reports”

The Lake City Police Department says officers found multiple spent shell casings…
Floods turned beloved Texas camp into a nightmare. At least 23 girls remain missing

Heavy floods transformed a cherished camp in Texas into a frightening experience. An estimated 23 girls are still unaccounted for.

KERRVILLE, Texas — Texas parents frantically posted photos of their young daughters…
Texas dad hailed a hero after injury while saving family from flood

Heroic Texas Father Injured While Rescuing Family from Flood Recieves Praise

The family of a Texas father who died while rescuing his loved…
Amount you need for a 'minimum quality of life' in America revealed

Revealed: the required amount for a basic standard of living in the United States

A family-of-four needs to earn over $100,000 a year just to maintain…
Body found in hunt for American who mysteriously vanished

American missing under mysterious circumstances found deceased

A body has been found in the search for a New York…
Dallas Cowboys make emotional gesture after devastating Texas floods

Dallas Cowboys’ Heartfelt Gesture in Response to Devastating Texas Floods

The Dallas Cowboys have pledged $500,000 to the relief efforts of the…
Mexico President Sheinbaum hopes deported boxer Chávez Jr. will serve time in Mexico

Mexico’s President Sheinbaum wants boxer Chávez Jr., who was deported, to be imprisoned in Mexico

MEXICO CITY — Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said Friday that Mexico hadn’t…
Kristi Noem addresses concerns about warnings sent during Texas storms

Kristi Noem talks about concerns regarding alerts sent during storms in Texas

Flooding has caused an average of more than 125 deaths per year…