NORTH COAST, Calif. – Mendocino County authorities are conducting searches at Lake Mendocino for a missing Laytonville man whose father was found dead in the lake on Tuesday.

Lt. Shannon Barney of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said they are trying to find Vincent Soto, 40.

Barney said that on Tuesday at around 6:10 p.m., the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office was contacted about a deceased person found floating in the water at the south east end of Lake Mendocino. It was also reported that a boat, without any persons aboard, also was located in the immediate area.

The reporting party indicated he'd observed the boat unattended, with no one aboard, so he went to investigate and observed the body in the water, Barney said.

Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the area and, with the assistance of personnel from the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, located and recovered the body of a deceased male adult approximately 50 yards away from the boat, according to Barney.

Barney said identification in the boat was used to identify the decedent as Carlos Soto, 62 years of age, out of Laytonville.

The cause of death in this case has not been determined but there were no obvious signs of foul play being involved. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday, Barney said.

During this investigation a second wallet with identification and cellular telephone were also located inside the boat. Barney said the wallet and phone belonged to Vincent Soto, Carlos Soto’s son.

Deputies were able to contact family members and they learned that Carlos and Vincent Soto had gone fishing on Lake Mendocino and should still be together. Deputies also located the missing man’s vehicle with a boat trailer at the North Boat Ramp of Lake Mendocino, Barney said.

With the the two men having planned a day out together on the lake, a missing persons investigation was initiation related to Vincent Soto. Barney said an initial search of the lake showed no signs of where Vincent Soto might be.

Sheriff's deputies contacted the Mendocino County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team who initiated a search by boat and by ground using divers and a side scan sonar system used to search under water. Barney said search teams will also be searching the shoreline of the lake.

Vincent Soto is described as an American Indian male, 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing approximately 190 pounds, with "salt and pepper" colored hair that is cut short.

He is clean shaven and when last contacted by relatives, around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, was shirtless and thought to be wearing blue denim cargo-type shorts and red low-top style tennis shoes, possibly made by Nike.

Family members said he has three tattoos: "One Love" on his chest that is multicolored, an English Mastiff on his left shoulder and an American Indian with feathers on his right shoulder.

Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Dispatch Center at 707-463-4086.