Human remains found on burned boat in East Bay

Human remains were found Wednesday on a boat that caught fire and sank in Dutch Slough at Bethel Island Marina on Sunday night.

Earlier Wednesday, officials raised the boat, which was on Riverview Place near the San Joaquin Yacht Club. Detectives and Deputy Sheriffs from the Coroner’s Division later boarded it to examine the scene, during which time they found the remains, according to Contra Costa Sheriff’s spokesman Jimmy Lee.

Earlier, authorities had said they believed a man may have been aboard the boat but they had been unable to locate anyone until Wednesday. A man had been living on the boat, and authorities said his vehicle was in the marina parking lot.

An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death and identify the person, Lee said in an email.

Fire officials estimated damages at $22,000 but the cause of the fire was not yet determined.

The investigation is ongoing.

Check back for updates.

Staff writer Rick Hurd contributed to this report.