The body of a 27-year-old man was found in Newtown Creek on Tuesday, August 2, 2023. The man, identified as John Castic, had been last seen leaving the Brooklyn Mirage concert venue on Saturday, July 29.
Castic was a senior analyst at Goldman Sachs and lived in Lower Manhattan. He was attending a concert by Zeds Dead at Brooklyn Mirage on Friday night. He was last seen leaving the venue around 3 a.m. on Saturday.
Around 11 a.m. Tuesday, a man spotted what appeared to be a body floating face down in the water about half a mile from the venue. The man called the police, who sent the NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit to recover the body, which was later identified as Castic. There were no obvious signs of trauma, but the medical examiner is still investigating the cause of death.
Castic’s death is the second in recent weeks of a person who was last seen at the Brooklyn Mirage. In June, the body of 27-year-old Karl Clemente was also found in Newtown Creek. Clemente had been turned away from the venue for drinking alcohol but his death did not appear suspicious.
Castic had not gone to the concert alone but he left the show early to call a ride after he started feeling ill.
The duo, Zeds Dead, who Castic saw Saturday evening, extended their condolences to the family after the announcement.
We are saddened to hear about the tragic loss of John Castic after our Brooklyn show this weekend. Our thoughts are with his friends and family
— Zeds Dead (@zedsdead) August 1, 2023
The NYPD is investigating both deaths, but they have not stated whether or not they believe there is any connection between the two cases.
Castic’s death has shocked his friends and family. He was described as a bright and charismatic young man. His father, Jeffrey Castic, said that his son’s death was “out of character.”
“He was a great kid. He was always happy and smiling. We’re just trying to stay strong,” Jeffrey Castic said. “We’re going to get through this together.”
Brooklyn Mirage is an open-air amphitheater famed for their EDM sets and immersive experience. It is located in a deserted industrial zone in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, not accessible by public transporation, and part of the Avant Gardner complex. The area has been noted as one that is not always the safest to wander solo, especially in the middle of the night.
If you are headed to a concert in the coming weeks, keep an eye on your friends and always utilize best safety practices. Try to stick with your group, drink lots of water (from sealed containers), don’t consume anything offered to you by a stranger and have a plan for getting home together.
