ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Questions surround a missing boater everyone thought was likely dead after he disappeared last month. But just this week the Coast Guard found out Enrique Bernardo Hernandez is alive.
The Coast Guard confirms that they learned Monday that Hernandez is no longer missing. He's even been seen at his Apopka home.
"I can't remember the last time I saw him. Maybe in a month? About 15 days, 15 days ago," said Lino Vargez, a neighbor to Hernandez.
Two weeks ago the Coast Guard still had no idea Hernandez was alive.
Last month they participated in a multi-agency search by air and boat.
Hernandez was reported missing February 6, after he failed to return from a fishing trip in Volusia County.
After nearly four days the search ended, and Hernandez was thought to be dead.
No one answered the door when Channel 9's Renee Stoll went to the home where Hernandez and his wife have been living.
The Hernandez's don't own the home, and it's in foreclosure.
Neighbors told Stoll that family, and Hernandez's red SUV, which was left at the boat ramp, are always at the house.
"The red Explorer would be right there under the carport, so I always thought they were still searching for him," said neighbor Michael Evans.
Evans said he hasn't seen Hernandez himself, but does recall a painful conversation his family had with Hernandez's family.
"They were acting real sad. They were just like, 'Oh, we just hope we can find the body so we can have closure,'" said Evans.
The Coast Guard said Hernandez’s 14-foot boat still has not been found.
