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Missing Former Jay Resident’s Boat Found Empty In Mexico
September 3, 2011
The fishing boat belonging to a former Jay resident missing almost a week in the Gulf of Mexico has been found off the Mexican coast, according to a published report in a Mexican newspaper.
Lee Kent’s The Monkey Bar II was located near Chuburna, a small town on the Yucatan Peninsula. There was no one aboard the Boston Whaler, according to the Progreso Hoy website.
The boat was floating with the keys in the console but no one aboard, according to fisherman Yam Chan who found the boat. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed late Friday night that the Monkey Bar II was being held by Mexican authorities pending an investigation.
The newspaper reported that pirates from the Cuban-American mafia sometimes use boats to smuggle undocumented Cubans onto the Yucatan Peninsula.
About 8:30 last Sunday morning, family reported 41-year old Kent, now a resident of Gulf Breeze, missing after he did not return from a fishing trip south of Pensacola Pass. The Coast Guard called off their search for Kent on Tuesday after searching an area larger than Maryland.
Pictured: The Monkey Bar II, the fishing boat belonging to a former Jay resident missing since a fish trip last week, was found in Chuburna, Mexico. Photo courtesy Progreso Hoy for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
21 Responses to “Missing Former Jay Resident’s Boat Found Empty In Mexico”
REGARDING:
“But we are missing the point here…we are concerned about what happened ”
Nope, all was concerning what may have happened and where he might be.
Story like this could wind up on Fox News. I hope Lee is found soon. I pray for his safety,
The winds from Lee could blow the boat quite aways. But we are missing the point here…we are concerned about what happened and where the missing man is????
REGARDING:
“Could (pirates) have captured the captain?”
FROM WIKIPEDIA:
PIRACY “consists of any criminal acts of violence, detention, rape, or depredation committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or aircraft that is directed on the high seas against another ship, aircraft, or against persons or property on board a ship or aircraft. Piracy can also be committed against a ship, aircraft, persons, or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any state,”
So kidnapping (or detention) would be piracy if done by a person on one boat against a person on another boat.
If the boat had been taken by pirates for human smuggling, the pirates would likely have kept the boat, so that seems unlikely to me.
It’s possible to get out of a boat and it blow away while you’re stranded in the water.
Lots of possibilities, few with happy endings.
I just find this whole thing just terrible. This poor poor family on a holiday
weekend and if this young man is not found, they will have this reminded
to them every year on this holiday.
Anything certainly could have happened, he could even have had a
aneurysm and fell over board. Unforeseen medical issues happen all the
time.
I do hope he is found alive, but if not I hope his body is found and the family
at least has closure instead of questions all the rest of their lives.
GOD BLESS EVERYONE WHO LOVED THIS MAN.
Capt Ron’s theory, makes the most sense, law of economy.
I have kown Lee since middle school and he has allways been adventurous. There are a few scenerarios that could have happened but all you can dois hope for the best. There isclosure of where the boat is ,but not where he is? My prayers are with (LEE0 and his family at this time.
I’m not familiar with pirates. Could they have captured the captain?
Has anyone checked into the possibility that maybe he staged his own disappearance? Seems that this has become a fairly common way for those with ways and means to escape whatever “problems” they may be struggling with.
Whatever the reason for disappearance, I hope that the family gets some answers soon. It would be awfully hard not knowing what has happened.
Mexican mafia? The article doesn’t say Mexican mafia it says Cuban/American mafia.
“Where is our Navy” is like asking where is the Army when there’s a street fight. As tragic as this is, it is not a matter of National Security, Coast Guard searched. What’s your point?
If you want the best news coverage, depend on North Escambia to get it fast and get it right.. I agree with CaptRon.. The local print is only fit for wrapping fish.. I have also personally witnessed a radio host giving the news live as he was reading it on North Escambia’s website.. Great job William!!
On the is it a 37-footer questions — the Coast Guard reported as a 37-footer; that why all the media reported 37-foot. Maybe it was a typo on the registration. T
The Mexican newspaper is now reporting it as a 32-footer.
For now, we’ve removed the length from the story. I think the bigger concern is the well being and whereabouts of Mr. Kent.
If Pirates are involved why did they not keep the boat?
I looked at Google maps this morning, and Chuburna appears to be a great distance from Pensacola. I wish I could hear the opinions, of our charter boat captains on this. I have never heard of anything like this around here. I pray for Mr Kent’s safe return, Lord please be with his family and loved ones.
@ name – It never was a 37 foot boat, media reports got it wrong. it has always been a 31/32 Boston Whaler Outrage.
I am glad the NE news posted a photo, I didn’t notice one in the PNJ mullet wrapper. Originally it was reported as a Grady White, but photo confirms it is a Boston Whaler. The boat could make the 550 mile trip at trolling speed easily but it would havee required an auto-pilot. Two important questions, how much fuel was left and was the auto-pilot engaged? Also the GPS would have a track history and would show where it had been. I doubt pirates abducted the boat from the canyon, but it’s feasible its single occupant fell over while changing out baits or gaffing a fish. Then he watches as it motors off, a mariners worst nightmare. Hopefully NE can answer those three questions and beat the PNJ and Coast Guard can figure it out…
“Too many American citizens being murdered”…..I don’t recall any mention of murder in the article…yes I am aware of the unstable situation in Mexico regarding safe travel for Americans but speculation only adds fuel to the fire!
Also, isn’t there a jurisdiction for Navy coast guard?
That is a 37 foot Boston Whaler!!!!
this picture not of 37 foot boat, more questions?
Where is our Navy/coast guard. Need to start getting tough with the Mexican Mafia. too many american citizens being murdered!