Missing Family from Texas Discovered After Nearly a Year
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Nearly a year after the U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search for a family of four missing after their boat capsized in waters off south-central Alaska, officials announced Wednesday that the vessel and human remains have been found. The discovery was made possible following the involvement of three private Alaska companies that offered their sonar equipment to assist in the search efforts, according to the Alaska Department of Public Safety.
Earlier this month, the missing boat was located, along with human remains, in 180 feet (55 meters) of water in Kachemak Bay near Homer. State divers recovered three sets of remains from the sunken vessel during dives conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday. These remains have been sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsies and identification, though officials did not specify how long this process would take.
The family, hailing from Troy, Texas, includes Mary Maynard, 37, her husband David Maynard, 42, and their two sons, Colton, 11, and Brantley, 8. The search was initiated in August after reports indicated that a 28-foot (8.5-meter) aluminum boat carrying eight passengers began to take on water. The Coast Guard was notified, and rescue operations led to the retrieval of four individuals from the water.
Despite extensive searching by the Coast Guard and Alaska rescue crews, initial efforts to locate the family were unsuccessful, leading to the suspension of the search by the following evening. Mary Maynard was described as a traveling nurse, while David stayed home with their children and managed a lawn care business. Christi Wells, representing Mary Maynard’s parents, noted the family’s fondness for spending time with loved ones and exploring new places.
Source
Photo credit www.newsday.com
