Categories: CrimeSanta Ana

Man found dead in the lake at Centennial Park identified as Modesto Tapia-Clara

Picture c/o Isabel Quiroz

The dead man whose body was found floating in the lake at Santa Ana’s Centennial Park has been identified as 31-year-old Modesto Tapia-Clara of Huntington Beach, according to the O.C. Register.

Tapia-Clara’s body was found floating in the lake on Wednesday morning, by a city worker.  SAPD detectives still don’t know how he met his end or why his body was in the water.  Apparently there are no signs of foul play or trauma on the body.

The Orange County Coroner’s office will be performing an autopsy on the body this Friday to try to determine the official cause of death.

Unbelievably Tapia-Clara’s wife gave birth prematurely on the same day that his body was found.  They already had one young son.

Tapia-Clara was a Mexican immigrant who came to the U.S. to work so he could send money to his pregnant wife, who had an illness that required costly medication.

Tapia-Clara had been in this country for about three months, working as a gardener, before he died.

He was supposed to take the bus back to his residence in Huntington Beach but he never made it home.

His family is trying to raise money to send his body back to Mexico for a funeral.  They also need help with his wife’s medical bills. Click here to contribute.

Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.
Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

View Comments

  • Dear Editor, regarding the wife and premature son of Mr.Modesto Tapia Clara, please let me know how I can contact them. I have important resources for them and would really like to help them out.

  • where the car wash. the bake sales? i mean all the lower income paisa dont even have a computer or digital currency .get out of here with that gofund me crap

  • If you’re going to speak out of your a*s leave that sh*t in there no one needs you negativity douche bag.

  • I'm sorry for your family's loss. I live near the park and this has never happened here. I just wanted to know what part of Mexico?

  • For those jente that really want to help. The Family of our Mexican departed brother from Puebla really needs your help. Unfortunately the premature baby boy also past away and was burried today. He was my friend here in Mexico. His Family needs your help people. God bless.

  • Esta persona era originaria de Chiautla de Tapia, Puebla, México
    Desgraciadamente el bebé de su esposa falleció y su familia necesitan apoyo económico... Por favor ayuden a estas personas que lo necesitan tanto!!!

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