LAKE COUNTY – Authorities have released more details about the drowning death of a Vacaville man, which appears to have been an accident.

Lt. Cecil Brown of the Lake County Sheriff's Office issued an update on the case of John Stockton, 44, who fell into the lake on May 5 and did not resurface.

Stockton's body was found three days later by rescue teams along with the help of a sonar equipment operator from Santa Rosa.

Brown's report explained that LCSO Sgt. Dennis Ostini, a member of the department's Marine Patrol unit, was patrolling the area near Buckingham Point at about 5:10 p.m. on May 5, where the incident occurred.

Ostini saw a boat under way in the area, with a man – Stockton – standing on the boat’s engine cover, holding on to a rope that was tied to the boat, according to Brown's report. Because the man's position was neither legal nor safe, Ostini turned toward the boat to check out the situation.

When Ostini was within 200 yards of the boat, he saw Stockton lose his balance and fall into the water, Brown reported. Ostini didn't see Stockton return to the surface, and a search was started immediately.

Brown said a variety of search resources, such as boats, divers, Search and Rescue team members, scent detection canines, a helicopter and sonar equipment, were used to look for Stockton, who was found at about noon May 8.

A coroner’s investigation and autopsy were conducted, according to Brown. The autopsy revealed that Stockton died from fresh water drowning.

Toxicology examinations are being conducted and results will not be immediately available, Brown added. Those results also will be released when they become available, he said.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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