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California man found dead on a boat in Wrangell

A California man was found dead Tuesday morning on a fishing vessel in Wrangell.

Lester Daniels Ortua, a 34-year-old deckhand on the Pacifica, likely died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Wrangell Police Chief Doug McCloskey said Ortua’s death is still being investigated.

He said police were notified around 6 a.m. and recovered the body from Wrangell’s downtown harbor. McCloskey said the death occurred while the boat was in the harbor.

The body has been sent to the state medical examiner for an autopsy.