LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The body of former professional wrestler Shad Gaspard, who was last seen in the waters off Venice Beach over the weekend, was found Wednesday morning along the shoreline near the Venice Pier, authorities said.
Los Angeles County firefighters and Los Angeles police responded to the pier about 2:15 a.m. and crews recovered the body and turned it over to the coroner's office, which made the identification, according to the fire department's Lifeguard Division and the coroner's office.
"Shad Gaspard was last seen by a Los Angeles County lifeguard about 3:40 p.m. (Sunday) as he swam in the ocean about 50 yards from Venice Beach in the county of Los Angeles," a Los Angeles Police Department statement said. "When last seen by the lifeguard, a wave had crashed over (him) and he was swept out to sea."
The incident occurred near the 4200 block of S. Ocean Front Walk, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported. County lifeguards pulled Gaspard's 10- year-old son from the water. He was evaluated by LAFD paramedics but did not require hospitalization.
The elder Gaspard, however, was nowhere to be found, prompting divers to begin a search of the water. Underwater searches for Gaspard were conducted on Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, the LAPD listed the case as a missing-persons investigation.
Gaspard was a star with World Wrestling Entertainment, making up one half of the tag team Cryme Time with his partner JTG.
On Monday, his wife, fitness trainer and nutritionist Siliana Gaspard, pleaded for help finding her husband on Instagram, posting two photos of him and saying he'd been missing since Sunday at the beach.
