Body of Tomales Bay Oyster Co. owner believed to be found

A body was recovered from Tomales Bay Saturday, and the body is believed by family and friends to be that of a missing boater, a sheriff’s lieutenant confirmed today.

The body was brought to Marconi Point around 2 p.m. after it was found floating in the bay, Marin County sheriff’s Lt. Doug Pittman said. The body is believed to be that of Charles “Tod” Friend, 70, of Oakland, the owner of Tomales Bay Oyster Co., by his family and friends.

The body was found by a group of people who continued to look for Friend after a multi-agency search was suspended Wednesday.

Pittman noted that the Marin County coroner’s office has not yet identified the body, which will be done using scientific methods including studying dental records and fingerprints, he said.

Friend was last seen around 3:15 p.m. Tuesday. An employee of Marshall-based Hog Island Oyster Co. saw Friend’s boat going in a circle with no sign of Friend aboard it, according to the sheriff’s office.

The U.S. Coast Guard, National Park Service, the Marin County Search and Rescue team and the sheriff’s dive team searched for Friend Tuesday and Wednesday. The official search was called off Wednesday, but friends and family of Friend continued to look for him, Pittman said.

Investigators believe Friend was not wearing a life vest and fell off his boat.

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