Body found in Fresno canal identified after weeks of work by sheriff’s office. Here’s how

The body of a man found in a canal in November was identified after weeks of work by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.

Khamphanh Xayachit’s body was found Nov. 16 along the canal at McKinley Avenue, east of Millbrook Avenue, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office.

The 41-year-old’s death did not appear suspicious, but he had been in the water for several days, which made it difficult to identify him, officials said.

Deputy Coroner Jeff Gentry issued a notice to the public in late November to help identify the man, but did not receive any leads.

Gentry turned to 108 Reserve Deputy Jason Lopez-Perez and the pair focused on a metal plate that had been surgically inserted into Xayachit’s arm, the news release said.

They took photos and were able to find a manufacturer’s name and serial number on it.

After they sent the photos to the medical equipment company, they were sent two names on New Year’s Day of people in the Fresno area with plates in their arms.

A crime scene technician researched the first name, which was Xayachit’s, and found that he had prints on file with the Sheriff’s Office. She compared them with the prints taken off the body, and was able to confirm a match, according to the news release.

Gentry found Xayachit’s sister and told her of her brother’s death. She thought her brother had moved away and that was why she hadn’t heard from him.

The woman was grateful to the Sheriff’s Office for identifying her brother and notifying her, the news release said.