Family, loved ones mourn loss of man found in Lake Natoma

Editor's note: This story was edited to add information on Dec. 30. Family and friends of an Orangevale man are mourning his tragic loss after his body was found in Lake Natoma on Monday, Dec. 29. Chris Cary Jr. was confirmed by the Sacramento County Coroner as the person whose body was found. Cary, 38, was a beloved tattoo artist at Folsom's Shanghai Tattoo. His father, Chris Cary Sr., made several heart-wrenching posts on social media during the search for his son and after the discovery of his body. When Cary Sr. wrote to his followers to update them on the tragic news, he sadly exclaimed, "The most beautiful thing I ever made is gone." The sad discovery of Cary Jr. came after a search was launched last weekend when he was reported missing; the search involved teamwork between the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Folsom Police and Fire Departments and the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office. "Officers began a missing person investigation, and some of the man's friends also began searching, finding his e-bike and some belongings along the west edge of Lake Natoma, just downstream from Black Miner's Bar," Folsom Police Commander Andrew Bates said while the search was underway. "Officers searched on foot and by air using uncrewed aircraft. Folsom Fire was also called to search using boats but could not locate him before weather forced the teams to pause the searching." Searches resumed the following day and into Monday, with California State Parks leading the search efforts, said Bates. State Parks officials, along with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office dive team, combed the surrounding area of Lake Natoma and found the body of Cary Jr. around 11:20 a.m. Now, friends and family members are reeling from the news; Shanghai Tattoo owners sadly shared the loss in a brief social media post. Shop co-owner Joshua Thompson told The Folsom Telegraph, "Our thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone who loved him." On Tuesday morning, Cary's father posted a series of pictures, including one of the day he was born, with a sad goodbye message: "Thank you for blessing me with 38 years."