Crime & Safety
Body Found at Waterfront Identified as Berkeley Man, 69
The man whose body was found in the water at the Berkeley shoreline Wednesday has been identified as a 69-year-old Berkeley resident, Jerald Jacob, who had been reported missing on Oct. 23, police said tonight, Friday.
He had been reported missing to Berkeley police on Oct. 23, Berkeley Police Officer Jennifer Coats told Patch tonight, Friday.
The release of the man's identity follows a plea from his son, Jeremy Jacob, on Facebook to help find the missing father.
"Because of the connection to the previous Berkeley case, BPD will be the lead agency regarding this investigation," Coats said.
"The manner and cause of Jacob’s death are still under investigation," she said.
Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to call the Berkeley police homicide detail at (510) 981-5741, or the non-emergency police number at (510) 981-5900. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Bay Area Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).
The Oct. 24 plea on Facebook by Jeremy Jacob includes photos of Jacob with a request to repost this notice:
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"*PLEASE REPOST*: My Father Jerald Jacob has been missing since yesterday 10.23. He was last seen at the Berkeley Marina wearing a black San Francisco Giants sweater, black cap, blue jeans and brown tennis shoes. He stands 5 ft 9 172 Lbs with a salt and pepper goatee. Plz contact me or the Berkeley Police Department (510) 981-5900 if seen."
A later post on Oct. 28 said his father was at HS Lordships restaurant at the Bekeley Marina on Wednesday.
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Police were alerted to a body in the water next to Frontage Road, about half mile south of University Avenue, by a 911 call around 3:14 p.m. Wednesday, Coats said. The spot is near the Berkeley Marina.
The lead agency in the investigation before it was turned over to Berkeley police was the East Bay Regional Park District police department. That section of the shoreline is part of McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, which is overseen by the park district.
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Published Nov. 1, 2013 at 7:25 p.m., updated 9:28 p.m.Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
