Missing teens’ boat found capsized off Florida coast
This combination made from photos provided by the U.S. Coast Guard shows Perry Cohen, left, and Austin Stephanos, both 14 years old. Cohen and Stephanos were last seen Friday afternoon, July 24, 2015, in the Jupiter, Fla. area buying fuel for their 19-foot boat before embarking on a fishing trip.
TEQUESTA, Fla. >> The Coast Guard says a boat belonging to two missing 14-year-old fishermen has been found off Florida’s Atlantic coast but neither boy was in or around the boat.
Petty Officer Steve Lehmann says the boat was found Sunday about 67 miles off Ponce de Leon Inlet in Volusia County.
According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel Carly Black, the mother of Austin Stephanos said, “We are going to find them today. We are going to bring them home.”
Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos were last seen Friday in the Jupiter area buying fuel for their 19-foot boat.
Lehmann says the boat was found capsized.
The boat will be anchored in place while search-and-rescue efforts continue. Lehmann says the Coast Guard is recalculating its search plans based on the boat’s location.
NFL Hall of Famer Joe Namath, who is Cohen’s neighbor, said during a news conference that both the boys are experienced boaters.
Namath said, “We’ve got to believe in their wherewithal.”
The families of the teens are offering $100,000 reward in the search.
