Body found in Guadalupe River ID’d as San Jose teacher

SAN JOSE – A body found in the Guadalupe River north of downtown San Jose last week has been identified as that of 38-year-old Richard Johnson, according to the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office.

Richard Johnson, 38, was found dead in the Guadalupe River north of downtown San Jose on Friday, June 26, 2020. He worked as a science teacher at Evergreen Valley High School. (Courtesy of Richard Prescott) 

San Jose police said the body was discovered south of Hedding Street and Ruff Drive around 12:10 p.m. Friday. The coroner’s office was called to the scene and took over the investigation.

The coroner’s office on Monday said it could not release any additional information about the case.

Johnson worked as a science teacher at Evergreen Valley High School in San Jose, according to his LinkedIn profile.

“He moved to California and loved the school system there because he came from Louisiana that has poor funding,” said his cousin, Matthew Prescott, in an email Monday. “It was like a different world where he had the supplies and tools and he loved it.”

Prescott said his cousin was “easygoing” and had “lots of friends.”

Johnson even worked a second job at a Chili’s “just to be around people,” Prescott said.

Prescott said Johnson recently told family members he missed home and was moving back. According to his LinkedIn profile, he had just started a job as an assistant professor at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Check back for updates.

Go to Source
Author: Jason Green

EastBayTimes