Autopsy results revealed after human head washes up on Florida beach

A 19-year-old Miami man who disappeared swimming last month and whose head eventually washed up on a South Florida beach, died as a result of drowning, autopsy results show.

A beach raker found Victor E. Castaneda Jr.'s head on a beach in Key Biscayne on Nov. 12 and notified local police, the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's Department wrote in an investigation report.

According to autopsy results obtained by USA TODAY from a Nov. 13 exam, autopsy officials ruled his death an accident.

Among other findings, the autopsy, signed Nov. 22 by associate medical examiners Mariana Voudouri and Nicholas Barna, found blunt and sharp-force injuries to his head "consistent with marine life activity."

The doctors, according to the report, determined those injuries took place after the victim died.

Officials identified the victim using his teeth, according to the report.

Victim whose head washed ashore disappeared swimming with sister

Castaneda disappeared swimming off South Pointe Beach south of Miami Beach, on Nov. 9, officials said.

Before he vanished, he and his sister, 17-year-old Hailey Clements, struggled in the water and Castaneda called for help, according to the Miami Herald, which spoke with family members. Bystanders managed to rescue his sister, but could not save her brother.

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Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.