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Body Found Near McCovey Cove Identified As Missing Los Angeles Man

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- San Francisco authorities said a body that washed ashore at McCovey Cove last month is that of a Brazilian man, who disappeared in October, shortly after he left a disturbing telephone message with his family.

22-year-old Paolo Netto had called his sister in Brazil one night in October - frantically asking her to call police because he was being followed in the Mission District.

Body Found Near McCovey Cove Is That Of Missing Los Angeles Man

Police never found him, but they do believe he was robbed at some point - because another man was seen using his debit card on Halloween night.

Officer Albie Esparza with the San Francisco Police Department said the case has yet to be classified as a murder investigation.

"The medical examiner has to determine whether or not they believe that there was foul play," said Esparza. "If they do find the cause of death to be suspicious or foul in nature, then it will change our investigation into a homicide investigation."

Netto had recently moved from Brazil to Los Angeles, and was in San Francisco looking at art schools. He called his family from the 500 block of Shotwell Street on the night of October 25th.

Esparza is urging anyone who might have seen Netto that night to contact San Francisco police.

When the body was retrieved from the water on the morning of November 9, police said it was badly decomposed and difficult to identify.

Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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