Body Of Missing Temecula Man Found In Escondido Lake

TEMECULA, CA — A 55-year-old Temecula man has been found dead following a nearly weeklong search for him after he went missing in Escondido.

According to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, Steve Mesa Turrey's body was found Tuesday in muddy waters in the northwest area of a lake at the All Seasons RV Park at 30012 Highway 395 in Escondido.

A Search and Rescue K-9 team alerted divers to the area, according to the sheriff's department.

Turrey's cause and manner of death are pending a final report from the county's Medical Examiner's Office.

Turrey was last seen alive walking away from the RV park around 11 p.m. Jan. 26. His daughter-in-law Rochelle Checkos said he had been working in Rancho Bernardo and staying at the park.

Turrey had medical and mental conditions that required prescription medications, so he was considered at-risk, the sheriff's department reported.

On Friday, the department said the search for Turrey was scaled back after teams turned up nothing for two days. At the time, the sheriff's department reported that 66 of its Search and Rescue Division volunteers and SAR K-9 handlers searched the campgrounds, while reserve deputy divers searched a nearby lake. A sheriff's helicopter and a drone were also used during the two-day search, according to the department. More than 100 people within the search area were questioned about whether they had seen Turrey, and detectives investigated and followed up on leads that were provided by the public, the department said.

Flyers were also distributed and partner agencies within the region were notified about the missing man.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department conducted a welfare check at Turrey's Temecula home.

According to Checkos, who also lives in Temecula, Turrey's cell phone was dead and he did not have a wallet on him or a vehicle.