Update: Medical Examiner confirms identity of body

An autopsy conducted Monday confirmed that the body of a 73-year-old man found Friday at the River to Sea Preserve, 9805 Ocean Shore Boulevard, was that of missing St. Johns County resident Richard Paquin.

The death appears to be of natural causes as no signs of foul play were found; however, toxicology tests, which could take three months, are still pending. This investigation is continuing.

The body was found Friday about 12:30 p.m. by a county parks employee in a bathroom at the preserve located south of Marineland. No obvious signs of trauma were evident but decomposition had begun. Paquin’s car, a 2014 Kia Forte, was also found in a secluded area at the preserve.

Paquin was reported missing a week ago. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office had sought the public’s help to find Paquin. On Friday, detectives with both the St. Johns and Flagler County sheriff’s offices responded to the scene.