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Body Matching Description Of Patterson Kidnap Suspect Found In Canal

PATTERSON (CBS/AP) – A body matching the description of the suspect in the kidnapping of a 4-year-old boy has been found in a Central California canal.

Stanislaus County authorities say the body was discovered around 8:30 a.m. Saturday in the Delta-Mendota Canal, near Patterson, by a water authority employee.

KCBS' Mark Seelig Reports

Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson says based on the physical description and clothing found on the body, he believes it is that of 27-year-old Jose Rodriguez.

But a positive identification is pending.

Rodriguez is suspected of kidnapping 4-year-old Juliani Cardenas from the boy's Patterson home on Jan 18. He is Juliani's mother's ex-boyfriend.

Juliani's body was found in the same canal on Feb. 1 further downstream.

(© 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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