CLEARWATER, Fla. —The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a missing 48-year-old boater in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, Monday.
The search for Jeffery John Reinhardt, 48, of Englewood, Florida, was suspended at 12 p.m. Monday following nearly a three day search along the Gulf coast of Florida.At 11:08 p.m., Friday, watchstanders from Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach received a call from a man reporting his father had not arrived home on time. Reinhardt was believed to be aboard his 25-foot boat.
At 11:25 p.m. a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium rescue boat crew from Station Fort Myers Beach was launched and commenced the search.
At 4:42 a.m. Saturday, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter rescue crew from Air Station Clearwater, Florida, reported finding the missing boat. A life jacket was missing, but was later recovered at Reinhardt's residence.
"Our sincerest condolences and sympathies go out to the friends and family of Jeffery," said Capt. Gregory Case, commander of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. "We have made the difficult decision to suspend our search. Despite our best efforts, searching alongside multiple agencies, we have been unable to locate him."
Coast Guard rescue crews involved in the search covered more than 5,100 square nautical miles during 29 separate searches since Friday evening.
Search and rescue crews included personnel from:
- Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach
- Coast Guard Station Cortez, Florida
- Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater
- Coast Guard Air Station Miami
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Lee County
- Collier County
- Charlotte County