Two Arroyo Grande men were found dead Sunday on a vessel located approximately 20 miles southwest of Point Conception, authorities said.
At approximately 8 a.m. Sunday, a concerned family member contacted the U.S. Coast Guard and requested they be on the lookout for a white, 34-foot Sea Ray Sundowner with two men on board. The occupants, identified as Gary Bishop, 53, and Christopher Avila, 49, were transporting Mr. Bishop’s boat from the Channel Island Harbor in Oxnard to Port San Luis Obispo, said Kelly Hoover, spokeswoman for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department.
Family members had last contacted Mr. Bishop and Mr. Avila at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and were concerned that they were not reachable and had not called update their progress, Ms. Hoover said.
The Coast Guard located the missing vessel just before 8 p.m. Sunday.
“Rescue personnel were lowered onto the vessel where it was discovered that the two men on board were deceased,” Ms. Hoover said.
The Coast Guard towed the boat to the Santa Barbara Harbor where the sheriff’s office took custody of the vessel and the decedents.
The sheriff’s Coroner’s Office identified next of kin and is investigating the circumstances surrounding their deaths, Ms. Hoover said.
“At this time there is no evidence to suggest foul play or suicide,” Ms. Hoover said. “The cause and manner of death is pending additional investigation as well as toxicology and lab results.”
