Autopsy: Boy Found In Canal Drowned, Still No DNA Confirmation

PATTERSON, Calif. (AP) -- An autopsy on a boy whose body was pulled from a Central California canal shows he drowned.

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department revealed the cause of death on Wednesday.

The body, which was found a day earlier in the Delta-Mendota Canal, matches the description of 4-year-old Juliani Cardenas. Cardenas was kidnapped from his home two weeks ago. The Cardenas family is planning his funeral although the coroner is still working to confirm the identification through DNA tests. Results are expected in a couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, the search is continuing for the kidnapping suspect, 27-year-old Jose Rodriguez, the ex-boyfriend of Juliani's mother. Officials believe his body is also in the canal.

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