RedactedNarrative: On 07/02/2018 at approximately 10:35 am, I Officer First Class of the Maryland Natural Resources Police received a call from the DNR Communications center that a body was found floating in the Chesapeake Bay northwest of Poplar Island. I was already on my NRP vessel conducting a surface search for the missing person from an incident that occurred on 06/27/2018 and responded to the location given by the caller. I arrived on scene at approximately 10:50 am and observed a body floating in the water and that it was deceased and marked the GPS coordinates as (N38* 48.102 - W076* 26.244). The body was of a white male wearing dark blue shorts and a grey/tan t-shirt that said "bike week" on the back. The body was face down and bloated. I tied a line around the chest under the arms and secured it to my vessel and waited for officers to arrive on seen and assist. 
  
  At approximately 11:00am we pulled the body aboard and returned to Tilghman Island Marina. After arriving at the marina the vessel was tied to the bulkhead near our boat slip and we waited for the investigator Cpl. to arrive on scene and perform his investigation. The victim was identified and is the missing person who fell off of a boat on 06/27/2018 near Poplar Island. Then at approximately 2:15pm, the Medical Examiner's office forensic investigator arrived on scene and performed their investigation. At approximately 4:15pm, the body was then retrieved and loaded into the transport's vehicle. These events occurred in Talbot County Md On June 27, 2018 at approximately 1515hrs, I was notified by Sgt. that a possible drowning may have occurred at Sandy Point State Park. He also informed me that units were working on another unrelated case of a man missing off of a vessel somewhere along the Eastern Shore. I contacted the DNR Communication Center who informed me that the child from Sandy Point had been revived and was being transported to Shock Trauma. They then explained the case of the missing person and how a vessel was being taken to Herrington Harbor. They informed me that units were responding to the scene. I contacted Lieutenant who advised that he wanted OFC to take the lead and that I was to assist him. I contacted OFC who had an extended ETA since he was coming from Salisbury. I too had an extended ETA, and contacted responding units via phone to determine what had occurred. 
  It was explained to me that while transporting a vessel from the Eastern to the Western Shore, a person had fallen off the boat. The person operating the vessel stated he did not know that Victim was missing off the vessel until he got to the Western Shore. Supposedly Victim had called Operator and left two voicemails which he did not know he had til almost and hour and half after the calls were made. I was told that the Chesapeake Bay was rough that day, with five to six foot waves. I asked for the units on scene to try and get a written statement from Operator on what had occurred. At approximately 1725hrs, I arrived at Herrington Harbor and was directed to the vessel in question. When I approached the pier, I discovered a vessel named the "Ann Nicole", an approximate 39 foot cabin cruiser, tied up. Several officers approached me with Operator behind them walking his dog. I reviewed Operator's written statement, which was eventually given to OFC. We got onboard Operator's vessel and I had Operator explain what had happened. 
  
  Not too long after starting, OFC arrived on the scene to hear his statement. Operator stated that he grew up in the Mayo/Edgewater area, but was just moving back from California. He explained that for several weeks he had been working on a deal to purchase the "Ann Nicole" so he could live aboard it at Herrington Harbor. The deal was being brokered by Knot 10 Yacht Sales in the Kent Narrows. Victim had been helping him, essentially his broker, with the deal. They supposedly grew up together and Victim supposedly had his own marine electronics business. He stated that on Tuesday, June 26th, the deal was completed. Operator wired the money, but it was after business hours. He could not take possession of the vessel until the money came through on June 27th. Since he had been working on the deal for several weeks, the salesmen allowed him to stay aboard the vessel during weekends and during the night of the 26th. Operator stated that during the morning of the 27th, Victim and himself were at the vessel preparing to take it across the Bay to Herrington Harbor. 
  
  They cleaned the vessel and prepared lines until they heard from the yacht sales company. Operator stated he had consumed 3 alcoholic beverages, all beer. He stated he had two at the dock and one when they were first underway. He stated that Victim did not drink alcohol. I asked him if drugs were involved and he stated in the negative. At approximately1051hrs, based upon the call log on his cell phone, Operator received the call from the office that he could take the vessel. While he went to the office to get the temporary stickers and complete the paperwork, victim stayed on board preparing the vessel. The weather was overcast, with thunderstorms in the area. The temperature was in the upper 80's, with the water temperature around 77degrees. They intended to launch from the Narrows; go through Eastern Bay; across the Chesapeake Bay; and settle at Herrington Harbor. Operator stated that the plan was to have his friend or brother pick them up at Herrington Harbor and transport them back to Kent Narrows to retrieve their respective vehicles. At approximately 1130hrs, Victim captained the vessel out of the slip and out into Eastern Bay. Operator filmed the occasion from his phone. You can hear Victim claim that there were four to five foot waves in Eastern Bay as they were leaving. Not long after leaving the dock, Victim gave control of the vessel to Operator, who captained the vessel the rest of the trip. 
  
  They operated from the top flywheel of the vessel. Operator stated that they did try and operate the vessel from below the flywheel area. But because of the sea conditions, they could not see out of the window from below. They needed the extra height afforded from the flywheel area. Operator stated he has had over 1000hrs of boating operation, but all on small vessels. He stated he was unfamiliar with the operation of this particular vessel. He also stated he was unfamiliar with the waters of Eastern Bay and that portion of the Chesapeake Bay. This was why Victim was on the vessel helping him take it across the Bay. It was later revealed that Operator has not taken the Boating Safety class as required by Maryland law.