Aaron Coffelt identified as dead body in Eel River

On Thursday, November 12, 2015, a Humboldt County Deputy Coroner responded to the Rio Dell river bar for a dead body located in the Eel River. The body has been positively identified as 44 year old Aaron Coffelt, of Rio Dell. The Rio Dell Police Department was notified that Coffelt was missing after he and some friends were drinking under the bridge. The Rio Dell Fire Department and Scotia Fire Department responded to the river bar and assisted with the investigation. It was determined the people drinking with Coffelt left the river bar but Coffelt didn’t. It is unclear how Coffelt’s body ended up in the river. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, 2015 to determine the cause of death.