Missing swimmer found dead in Russian River on Friday

MONTE RIO – A man who went missing while swimming in the Russian River near Monte Rio on Wednesday has been found dead, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday.

Missing swimmer Nasoni Tuitoga, 28, of Santa Rosa, was found Friday afternoon, the sheriff’s office said.

Officials with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department have been searching for the man since receiving a 911 call around 6:17 p.m. Wednesday. The man was last seen near Villa Grande, a dependent community on the river.

Officials and firefighters were unable to locate the man and called in additional assistance to assist in the search, including the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Marine Unit, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Volunteer Dive Team and the Monte Rio Fire Protection District. The search was called off at nightfall.

The search resumed Thursday morning. The Napa County Sheriff’s Marine Unit and Dive Team assisted with the search with their remotely operated underwater vehicle. The search was suspended again at nightfall and resumed on Friday.