All 3 recent Truckee River drownings are still under investigation

All three of the recent Truckee River deaths, including the most recent one this weekend in Sparks, are still under investigation.

On Saturday, the third body since May 23 was pulled from the river.

“The cause and manner of death for all three river deaths is still pending lab and toxicology testing,” Justin Norton, operations manager for the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office, said Monday.  

The body of the third person was pulled from the water near Cottonwood Park, a six-acre park near Spice Island Drive. The person has not yet been identified.  

On Friday morning, the Sparks Fire Department recovered the body of 32-year-old Marco Moran from the fast-flowing river.  

Moran was found around 8:40 a.m. just east of Rock Boulevard.  Norton said Moran is believed to have been homeless.

In that case, the Sparks Police Department said the death is suspicious.  

On May 23, the body of Loren Nichols, 49, was found near Coney Island Drive in Sparks.

Norton said the autopsy process doesn't change much even though drowning is a likely cause of death.

"Some additional attention will be paid to the lungs and trachea since this was water-related to help determine if this was a drowning, but the procedure is generally the same as a 'routine' autopsy," Norton said.