Man Who Fell To His Death At Rindge Dam Identified

MALIBU— The man who fell off the Rindge Dam to his death on Sunday, June 7 has now been identified as 26-year-old Ruben Melgarejo from Los Angeles.

According to the Malibu Search and Rescue Team’s Facebook on June 7, the LA County Fire Department, California State Parks and LA County Lifeguards, the LA County Sheriff’s Department and two helicopters were dispatched to a reported male adult swimmer in Rindge Dam that had either jumped or fallen into the water and never surfaced.

After five hours of searching, Melgarejo’s body was recovered 20 feet underwater. There was an autopsy scheduled for June 9.

Malibu Canyon Road was closed between Seaver Drive and Piuma Road during the search.

Sergeant Travis Kelly of the Lost Hills Station, told Patch news that the particular area where Melgarejo and his friends gathered has been marked closed for many years, though many people go swimming in the creek.

California State Parks Angeles District Supervisor Craig Sap, told MalibuTimes that California State Parks tries to strictly enforce the no hiking near the dam rule. Hundreds of tickets have been written to violators.

Carlos Melgarejo, brother of Ruben Melgarejo, created an online fundraiser for his brother’s funeral expenses.

Carlos wrote, “For those of you whom know my brother, Ruben Melgarejo, I have received sad news. We have lost one of our own, a family member, and a friend. He has passed away. He was taken away from us too soon. He will always be loved and missed.”

Visitation will be held on June 20, 2020 at 4:00 pm at Glendale Funeral Home, 511 South Central Avenue, Glendale, CA.