Missing Thotapilly family's bodies found and identified

The Thotapilly family.

THE FOUR BODIES recovered Friday, Sunday and Monday (April 16) from the Eel River have been identified as the California family killed when their SUV swerved off the road and into the river a week ago.

Three bodies were found Sunday after the Honda Pilot they were traveling in was found in the rain-swollen river a half-mile from the spot the car went over the embankment and into the river. Two bodies inside the car were identified as the father, Sandeep Thotapilly and his 9-year old daughter, Sachi.

On Monday, the body of 12-year old Siddhant was found six-miles down river from where the vehicle was found.

Thirty-eight year old Soumya Thotapilly's body was found first Friday, April 13, several miles further downriver.

The family from Santa Clarita, California was returning home from Portland, Oregon. They were reported missing April 8 when they failed to meet up with relatives in San Jose, CA and all cell phone contact ended.

MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Searchers used rafts and paddle boards to comb miles of the rain-swollen Eel River in northern California.

The driver apparently had pulled off the road during a powerful storm but the SUV went over the edge of an embankment into the flooded river, sheriff's officials have said.

Dozens of searchers had been combing the river with Jet Skis, paddle boards boats and kayaks, along with dive teams.

The search for the vehicle and family was hampered by the strong currents of the Eel River, swollen from recent storms. A team of more than 20 searchers discovered the car lying submerged between 4 and 6 feet of water and found the bodies inside the vehicle, the sheriff’s office said. 

Sandeep Thotapilly worked as a vice-president with the Union Bank and lived in Los Angeles with his family. He grew up in Surat, Gujarat, and settled down in the U.S. over 15 years ago, a relative said.

Candles and flowers mark the driveway along with a flier from neighbors on the garage door of the Thottapilly's Santa Clarita home. Neighbors recalled the well-behaved children and kind parents.

"We always stopped and talked with them. They're very sweet people, very nice, and their children are very well-behaved. It's a very, very sad thing to have happen," Joe Romero told ABC News.

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