06/01/09 at approximately 0945 hrs., a concerned citizen called the Talbot County 911 Center to report an unmanned vessel running in circles in Harris Creek behind her residence. At approximately 1000 hours, the vessel stopped circling as it appeared to have run out of fuel. Uniformed Natural Resources Police Officers responded, secured the vessel, and began searching the area. The vessel was determined to belong to the victim. The last confirmed sighting of Victim had been at approximately 0430 hrs. by his wife as he left the house to go crabbing in his boat. No one saw Victim operating the vessel. St. Michaels Fire Department, Oxford Fire Department, Maryland State Police, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Preston Mid-Shore Dive team all assisted with the search for the victim. At approximately 1645 hrs., the body of the victim was recovered within 25 yards of where the concerned citizen had first seen the boat spinning in circles. Victim's body was transported to the office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for autopsy. Results of the autopsy will not be available for some time; however, it appears that the nature of Victim's demise was related to a long history of serious heart disease. No one witnessed Victim operating the vessel before the accident. No one witnessed the accident. This case remains open pending autopsy results.
Bozman                        