RedactedNarrative: On 8/16/17 at approximately 1820hrs myself and Ofc. were dispatched to Hart Miller Island for a vessel in distress and a person in the water who has not resurfaced yet. I responded to Strawberry Point in my patrol truck and then got underway on NRP879. While en route I received updated GPS coordinates which put the incident in Hawk Cove, just off the main swimming beach of Hart Miller Island State Park. On my arrival Baltimore County Police Aviation was overhead searching the area and Baltimore County Fire Boat 268 had just arrived before me and was running side scan sonar around the suspect boat looking for the victim. I did a quick surface search around the vessel and then tied up to the "Wet Spot" (MD registration 0313BF) which was the vessel where the victim had entered the water. Other fireboats from Baltimore County arrived shortly after and began marking the vessel location with floats, doing side scan sonar searches, and started to coordinate human chain searches with bystanders in the area.
  
  Subjects stated that around 1800hrs the 3 of them were getting ready to depart Hart Miller Island when VICTIM went to the bow of the boat to try and free the anchor which was stuck and not able to be brought up with the mechanical windlass. VICTIM then jumped off the bow of the boat to attempt to swim down and free the anchor by hand. After some time had passed the two female passengers became concerned that VICTIM did not resurface and began to call over nearby boaters and swimmers to come and help them. Multiple bystanders dove under the boat and followed the anchor line down to the bottom (and even pulled it from the bottom) but were unable to find the victim. The female passengers then called 911 on their cell phones for further help.
  
   SUBJECT1 and SUBJECT2 described VICTIM as approximately 6'02" tall, 240 pounds, wearing black swim trunks, short grey hair, and facial hair. They stated he was a good swimmer, however he has had 2 open heart surgeries and gets out of breath easily, but has been acting fine all day. They had consumed a few "pina coladas" during the afternoon but no other alcohol during their afternoon on the boat. SUBJECT1 stated they left out of Parkside Marina in Frog Mortar Creek around 1115hrs, went to "Miami Beach" for a few minutes but stated it was too rough, and then went to Hart Miller Island around noon where they stayed the rest of the day since it was much calmer. At 1800hrs they were getting ready to go back to Parkside Marina for the night. 
  
   SUBJECT2 stated she has been dating VICTIM for approximately 6 years and SUBJECT1 is SUBJECT2S twin sister. The 3 of them were the only ones on the boat that day. SUBJECT2 initially stated that VICTIM has no living parents, children, ex-wives, or siblings to notify and that his "family" other than her, were his friends and co-workers. After checking the boat registration it was discovered that it belonged to another subject, and SUBJECT2 stated that he was VICTIMs best friend and that the vessel had been registered in his name for monetary purposes. 
  
   At this point more resources had arrived on scene including NRP Ofc., two US Coast Guard vessels, and more Baltimore County Fire boats. Rescue divers searched underneath the vessel but were unable to find the victim. Divers did however find that the anchor line had gotten wrapped in the propeller but did end up cutting the line since they believed they may have seen blood on the rope (it was later discovered the red was painted on the line to indicate depth markings). It is unknown at this time if the anchor fell to the bottom of Hawk Cove, was recovered by the fire boat, or is still wrapped in the propeller of "Wet Spot". Since the victim was still not located, notifications were made to the Duty Officer on call, Lt., who also notified Special Operations Division to have a Criminal Investigator sent to the scene.
  
   Fire vessels continued to run side scan sonar and help organize human chains of approximately 20 people to help search the nearby area which was only 2-5 feet in depth. A second float was dropped where the boat was after the immediate bottom was cleared by the diver. This was then able to give us an approximate drift direction and area to search. Initial position marked by fire boats was N39°15.225 W76°22.404 and it had drifted to N39°15.274 W76°22.469 by approximately 1915hrs. Fire Command was run by from North Point/Edgemere Fire Company. 
  
   Sunset was at approximately 2000hrs and at that time fire department units halted all dive operations and made a few more passes with side scan sonar. They then cleared the area and stated they would return tomorrow if need be to help in the body recovery effort. NRP and Coast Guard units remained on scene with the victims  vessel awaiting NRP criminal investigators. At approximately 2100hrs Lt., and two NRP criminal investigators arrived on scene and were given a full update as to what we uncovered during our investigation and what happened during the search effort. All operations were turned over to Lt. and the investigation turned over to NRP investigators.
     
   Once initial interviews were completed Chesapeake Marine Salvage and Towing was contacted to tow the vessel and the two female passengers back to Parkside Marina at the request of the vessel owner. The location floats were left in the water to assist in the search effort once it was to resume at first light on 8/17/17. All NRP and Coast Guard Vessels then cleared the scene.
     
   On 8/17/17 a surface search was done by US Coast Guard and NRP Officers at first light with no results. Maryland Natural Resources Police Underwater Operations Team began a search at approximately 1000hrs. At approximately 1100hrs side scan sonar showed a potential target in the initial search area between the float markers. At the same time a Baltimore County Aviation Division helicopter also noticed an anomaly in the same area and helped lead NRP vessels onto the target area. A body was then recovered at approximately 1110hrs by officers on NRP vessel 851. The body was then packaged and brought back to the Strawberry Point boat station for identification. The body was transported by a US Coast Guard vessel with an NRP officer on board. After arriving at the NRP Strawberry Point boat station the body was positively identified and turned over to NRP Investigator. A Forensic Investigator was requested and later the body was transported to the Medical Examiners Office. 
  
     All events occurred in Baltimore County. Please see supplements and reports from NRP criminal investigators for further investigative details.
  