Lake Britton, Burney, California – The Shasta County Coroner’s Office has confirmed the identity of the man found deceased on the shore of Lake Britton on Wednesday evening. The victim has been identified as 73-year-old James Lawrence Marques, a resident of Pioneer, California.
The incident occurred on August 21, 2024, when the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) received a distress call about an overturned canoe on Lake Britton. According to reports, James Marques and his 72-year-old wife were canoeing when their vessel capsized, throwing both into the water. While his wife, who was wearing a lifejacket, managed to swim to shore and seek help, Marques, who was holding a lifejacket but not wearing it properly, tragically did not survive.
Deputies from the Burney station, along with a Sheriff’s Office boat team, were dispatched to the scene. After an extensive search, they discovered the body of James Marques along the shoreline. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Coroner’s Office has informed Marques’s next-of-kin, and a postmortem examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. The investigation is ongoing, as authorities work to uncover the full details surrounding this tragic event.
Ruth Michels, reflecting on the loss, simply posted, "Sad," on Facebook.
Authorities continue to gather more information and will provide further updates as the investigation progresses.