Redding, California — Alex Abrams, a 37-year-old man from Redding who disappeared into the Sacramento River after an intense police chase early last week, was found dead in the water Wednesday morning, law enforcement said.
Abrams had been missing since Sunday, February 8, when Redding Police officers tried to stop a vehicle with expired or false plates. The driver sped off along local streets before heading toward the river trail, with officers in pursuit. At one point near the Kutras Boat Ramp area, Abrams and another man left the car and plunged into the cold river to escape. The driver swam back to shore and was taken into custody. Abrams did not resurface.
For three days, emergency crews and sheriff’s dive teams combed the river with boats and specialized equipment. On Wednesday about 10:20 a.m., divers located Abrams’ body submerged in deep water near the Bluffs, a stretch of the Sacramento River between the Highway 44 overpass and the Sundial Bridge. He was recovered and later formally identified by the Shasta County Coroner’s Office.
Investigators confirmed Abrams had fled into the river during the chase. After recovering his body, officials turned the case over to the coroner for a post-mortem examination, part of the ongoing inquiry into the exact sequence of events that led to his disappearance. His next of kin have since been notified.
Friends and family in Redding remembered Abrams as someone with deep roots in the community, talking about him in tones that blended concern with disbelief. In those quiet conversations between neighbors and relatives, many spoke of a man who had struggled but was loved and missed.
City officials and law enforcement have not released additional details about the pursuit or any charges that may be pending. For now, the focus has shifted to understanding what happened in those crucial moments on Sunday morning and bringing some closure to a grieving family.
Abrams’ death has stirred a mix of sorrow and reflection here in Redding. It has reminded locals of the river’s power and the unpredictable nature of pursuits that take people into places where nature and law enforcement intersect.
The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate and has asked anyone with information about the chase or Abrams’ movements to come forward.
