On 8/27/12 at 2212 hours, Escambia County Sheriff's Office (ECSO) received a call reporting had gone fishing out of Sherman's Cove Marina on his Personal Watercraft (PWC) but had not returned. United States Coast Guard (USCG) began search. Search was called off at 1500 hours due to approaching hurricane. On 8/30/12 at 1757 hours, the body of Operator was found in Sherman's Cove Marina. The PWC has never been recovered. Medical Examiner's report is still pending.

On 8/27/12 at approximately 2212 hours, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office (ECSO) received a report (CAD# 12-CAD203530) of a missing person. Operator took his personal watercraft (PWC) out fishing earlier in the day and did not return. The caller reported Operator likes to take his PWC out to the Massachusetts and fish. Operator was driving a green Ford van with Florida and towing a PWC trailer with a Florida license plate of ASHQ62. The PWC was a 1995 Yamaha with a Florida registration number of FL 4737 JN. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) was contacted and a search by air and water begins.

On 8/27/12 at approximately 0903 hours, Operator' cell phone was "pinged" by Verizon. Verizon placed the cell phone approximately seven miles offshore south of the Pensacola Pass/Perdido area at coordinates of N 30.11.272 and W 87.26.270. At approximately 0933 hours, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was contacted. FWC pilots could not assist in the search by air due to bad weather. USCG continues to search by air and water. The family of Operator removed the van and the PWC trailer from the Sherman's Cove Marina. At approximately 1500 hours, the USCG calls off the search due to bad weather from the approaching hurricane.

There was no reported search activity on 8/28/12.

On 8/30/12 at approximately 1547 hours, a Good Samaritan walking along the beach outside of Sherman's Cove Marina finds a "kill" switch believed to be for a PWC and turns it in to the USCG. At approximately 1757 hours, subject reported a body that had washed up near Marker 5 just inside of the Sherman's Cove Marina. USCG responds, gets authorization to enter the water and removes the body. The body is placed on a USCG vessel and returned to the USCG station. FWC is contacted. USCG contacted the Medical Examiner's office and the ECSO. The body is transferred from the USCG vessel to the pier area. The ECSO is the lead investigating agency on this incident. Officer of the ECSO arrives and begins report and interviews. The Medical Examiner arrives and takes body.

The PWC has not been recovered at this time
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This incident occurred in Escambia County.

The Medical Examiner's report has not been completed at this time. No cause of death has been determined at this time.
PENSACOLA                     