Man Found in Uvas Identified

Gilroy resident Saul Jimenez, 20, was found floating face down
in reservoir
Morgan Hill – The man found dead in Uvas Reservoir has been identified as Saul Jimenez, 20, a Gilroy resident, according to the Santa Clara County Coroner’s office.

A representative from the coroner’s office would not comment on why it took five days to release the man’s name.

Jimenez was found Wednesday by two men fishing the reservoir. He was floating face down and had apparently been in the water for a couple of days.

“It is apparent by the state the body’s in that he’s been in there for a while,” Santa Clara County Sheriff’s spokesman Serg Palanov said last week.

Jimenez may have been going for a swim in the reservoir, which is prohibited, Palanov added.

He was wearing blue shorts that could have been swim trunks, and a pile of clothing was found on the bank about 20 feet from where his body floated on the surface.

A representative of the Santa Clara County Coroner’s office said the cause of death was not being released Monday and noted that the death is still under investigation.  

Palanov said when the body was found that it appeared to have been in the water for a few days. An older model Toyota Corolla was abandoned in the parking lot of the public boat ramp and had apparently been in the parking lot for several days. Palanov said the vehicle may have been the one Jimenez was driving.

Palanov said no lifeguard is on duty at the reservoir, which is one reason swimming is not allowed. 

Jimenez was found when two men fishing on the lake noticed the clothing and several empty beer cans lying on the shore and decided to investigate.