( CNN ) -- California authorities extended their condolences Tuesday to the family of Juliani Cardenas , 4 , after a body was found that they say matches his physical description . Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson said he believes the remains of Jose Esteban Rodriguez , the man accused of abducting the boy , are also in the canal . A homicide warrant will be issued for Rodriguez , the former boyfriend of the boy 's mother , as they continue searching for him , he said . `` We want to offer our deepest condolences to the Cardenas family , '' the sheriff said . `` This is a very difficult time for them . '' The clothing on the body matches what the child was wearing when he was abducted two weeks ago , Christianson said . Formal identification of the boy 's body will take two to three weeks , he said . Christianson told HLN 's Nancy Grace that the family will be able to proceed with funeral plans . The discovery was made near Santa Nella , about 31 miles south of the area being searched for Juliani , who has been missing since he was taken from his grandmother January 18 in Patterson , Stanislaus Deputy Royjindar Singh told CNN . Juliani 's mother , Tabitha Cardenas , said last week that Rodriguez -- with whom she broke up about five months ago and who is the father of her unborn child -- would not purposely drive her son into the water . A person who answered at the Cardenas home Tuesday said there would be no comment on the developments . As the family mourned in private , the community held an outside evening prayer service in Patterson . A water authority employee found the body at 7:38 a.m. Tuesday , said Merced County Sheriff 's Deputy Tom MacKenzie . `` It 's very difficult to find the body of a child , '' Christianson said . `` It 's been a very emotional case for everybody . '' Authorities on Saturday had called off their lengthy search for Juliani in one part of the 117-mile Delta-Mendota Canal , but said the search would continue elsewhere . Friday night , divers in the canal located the vehicle belonging to Rodriguez , but there was no sign of him or the child . A witness had reported seeing the 2003 silver Toyota Corolla going into the water January 19 with a man and youngster inside , Christianson said last week . `` From the very beginning , we wanted to find little Juliani alive , '' the sheriff said Tuesday . `` Everything led us to that canal . '' The car had been trapped in 50 feet of water and was intertwined with two other vehicles , Christianson said Friday . The windows of the car were found opened and it was badly damaged , he said . Cardenas had said Rodriguez either wanted to have her son for himself or wanted revenge for their breakup . She said she never thought he 'd harm Juliani . Rodriguez `` wanted to be with my son , '' Cardenas said on January 20 . `` He wanted to be with my son so bad that he took it to the extreme . '' Cardenas said Rodriguez came to her house early January 18 , but she told him to leave because Juliani was asleep and had a cold . The boy 's school later called her after Rodriguez had gone there asking to spend time with the boy . Later that afternoon , Cardenas got a call from her frantic mother , who said Rodriguez had again come by and , despite her struggle , had snatched the boy from her arms . Christianson said last week there has been `` no electronic signature of any kind '' from Rodriguez since the boy 's abduction , meaning no evidence of cell phone , credit card or debit card use . CNN 's Amanda Watts contributed to this report .
NEW : Outside prayer service held in Patterson . Authorities believe the body is that of Juliani Cardenas , 4 . They also believe the remains of his suspected abductor are in the canal .