Body found on Santa Barbara County beach identified

Update, 6:15 p.m. Wednesday

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office has identified the body found on a beach in Carpinteria on Tuesday morning as 37-year-old Anita Rebecca Ruiz of Santa Barbara, according to a news release Wednesday evening.

Sheriff's detectives investigating the case said Ruiz died as a result of injuries she sustained from a cliff fall, and no foul play is suspected, the release said.

An official cause and manner of death is pending toxicology and lab results. Ruiz was reportedly visiting family in Carpinteria and was last seen Monday evening.

Anyone with information that would assist investigators is asked to contact the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Coroner's Office at 805-681-4145.

Original story

A dead body was found on the beach in Carpinteria on Tuesday morning in what authorities believe to be a suicide, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.

About 10:15 a.m., officials received a report that a passer-by spotted a body on the beach east of the seal rookery in Carpinteria, a Sheriff's Office news release said.

Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene and discovered an adult female decedent, officials said.

The Sheriff's Coroner's Office positively identified the woman, and her identity will be released once next of kin has been notified, the release said.

Sheriff's detectives are conducting an investigation to the determine the circumstances surrounding her death, according to the release.

Lt. Brian Thielst said no foul play was suspected.

Noozhawk.com contributed to this report.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 7:15 p.m. with additional information.

This story was originally published March 27, 2018 at 5:57 PM with the headline "Body found on Santa Barbara County beach identified."