SEBASTIAN — The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of an adult male whose body was discovered this morning at approximately 9:00 a.m. along the shoreline near 12900 Indian River Drive.
The man was identified as Elias J. Ramos, 18, of Volusia County.
Preliminary information indicates the individual may be connected to an incident several days ago in South Brevard County, where a subject fled from the Sebastian Police Department and entered the Indian River Lagoon to evade law enforcement.
A multi-agency search was conducted with FWC and Brevard County Sheriff’s Office at that time but was unsuccessful.
Sheriff Eric Flowers told Sebastian Daily they are “investigating a suspicious death.”
The Sheriff’s Office said Ramos underwent a mental health evaluation at a facility in Palm Beach County, where he stole a vehicle on Tuesday, Feb. 24, and traveled north on U.S. 1 at more than 100 mph.
Sebastian Deputy Chief Tim Wood said, as Ramos entered the area, an officer spotted the vehicle at the intersection of Barber Street and U.S. 1 and initiated a pursuit.
Officers later found the vehicle parked in Micco and Ramos standing next to it.
When officers tried to make contact with him, he ran and jumped into the Indian River Lagoon.
Based on recent weather conditions and investigative findings, authorities believe the body may have traveled south through the lagoon before washing ashore near Sebastian.
