RedactedNarrative: On April 2, 2020 at approximately 1847 hours I, Officer First Class with the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) Criminal Investigations Section, (CIS) was contacted by Sgt. (NRP) in reference to two possible missing people in the Chesapeake Bay in the area of 38.754667 -76.478167. 
  
  The original reporting party called Anne Arundel County 911 at approximately 1628 hours to report two possible adolescents in a yellow canoe with no personal flotation devices (PFD's) in the Chesapeake Bay near Columbia Beach. 
  
  Subject1 also reported that he believed the canoe may be in distress due to the high winds and seas. Anne Arundel Fire Department Engine 411 arrived on scene by land subject1 at 1638 hours at the Columbia Beach Community Pier. Subject1 stated that shortly thereafter, the canoe disappeared into the horizon. According to Anne Arundel County Fire Department computer aided dispatch (CAD) notes, the approximate time they lost sight of the canoe was 1650 hours. The Maryland Natural Resources Police Communications Center was contacted by Anne Arundel County Fire Department Dispatch who reported the incident at 1646 hours. Ofc. (NRP) arrived on scene by vessel at 1709 hours to begin a search. After Ofc. arrived, several other marine and air assets from the United States Coast Guard (USCG), MD State Police, Anne Arundel County Fire Department, and Queen Anne's County Fire Department arrived on scene. Subject1 provided the following witness statement prior to my arrival. The statement was taken by Ofc..
  
   "NOTICED TWO people / 10 + 14 yr old Kids in a canoe. NO Life preservers on. The canoe coming from Cedar Hurst area going towards the boat ramp. I ran down to the boat ramp to Try to yell out to them but they could not hear me. Came back to the house and called 911. Anne Arundel Fire Dept met me at the Boat ramp. The Firemen were able to see the canoe- at a distance away. “I arrived on scene at approximately 1951 hours. I was informed by on scene NRP patrol units that the United States Coast Guard (USCG) recovered an overturned 20 ft yellow in color "Old Town" canoe with (1) paddle at GPS Coordinates 38.754667 -76.478167. The canoe recovered was a model "Old Town" and yellow in color, matching the description of the canoe reported by Subject1. I was also informed by on scene NRP patrol officers that (2) individuals were confirmed missing from the residence.
  
   I then interviewed the husband of Operator and the father of Occupant. According to Husband, he lived with Operator and their three children. According to Husband, the family was staying at the home of Operator's mother for the duration of the COVID-19 Pandemic. 
  
  Husband stated the family arrived at the home the night prior on April 1, 2020. According to Husband, he had been on a work telephone call from 1200 hours to 1700 hours. When he was finished with his work call, he texted and called Operator to inquire as to where the family was because "no one was around". 
  
  Husband stated that he then began to straighten the house, and when he saw the family's "au pair" a short time later with (2) of his children, he inquired as to the location of his wife and son. Husband stated that Au pair told him she saw Operator and Occupant on a canoe a while ago pursuing a ball which had floated away. 
  
  Husband stated that after waiting a time longer and not hearing from his wife, he began to worry. It was at that time Husband said he found Operator's black jacket hanging on a hammock in the yard, and inside the jacket was Operator's cell phone. According to Husband, he then began to panic, and drove his vehicle down the driveway in an attempt to find his wife and son. 
  
  Husband said when he got to the end of the driveway he was met by Anne Arundel County Fire Department personnel.  I asked Husband for permission to open his cell phone so I could see where he texted/ called his wife which he allowed. There were two calls from Husband to Operator at 1726 hours and 1814 hours, and a text message from him to her stating "where are you all?" at 1704 hours. I then interviewed the family's "au pair". Au pair stated that she was playing with two of the Husband's children in the yard when she saw Operator and Occupant paddling out into the Chesapeake Bay. 
  
  Au pair said it appeared as though they were chasing a ball which had ended up in the water. She said a few minutes later she looked up and then did not see them any longer. According to Au pair, she walked the shoreline in attempt to regain sight of Operator and Occupant. A short time later Husband began asking as to the whereabouts of Operator and Occupant. I then photographed the area Operator and Occupant were believed to have launched the canoe from. 
  
  There was obvious foot traffic in the sand, and a mark in the sand indicative of a canoe being dragged into the water. There was also a wooden canoe/kayak stand near the water's edge capable of holding (2) canoes/kayaks. The stand only had (1) kayak on it at the time, and it was confirmed that there were normally (2) canoes/kayaks on the stand. 
  
  The water temperature at the time was 51.2 F, winds out of the NW at 26 knots. After photographing the area, I then cleared the scene, as did on-scene NRP and Anne Arundel County Fire units. United States Coast Guard Station Annapolis remained in the area overnight conducting surface searches. 
  
  Subject1 confirmed that he witnessed (2) individuals the previous day onboard a yellow canoe that appeared to be in distress, while not wearing PFD's. According to Subject1, he thought the occupants of the canoe may have been in trouble when he saw the wind push them past the beach ball which they appeared to be chasing. Subject1 stated that he watched the individuals in the canoe drift South in the Chesapeake Bay in the strong winds until he could no longer see them. Subject1 was able to provide a more accurate location for search and rescue assets to continue searching based on the last known position of the canoe and the occupants. 
  
  
  