Coast Guard ends search for missing boaters

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Conceding that we may never know exactly what happened, the Coast Guard Saturday ended it's search for the remaining two of four missing family members who disappeared aboard their boat last weekend.

"It is with a heavy heart and sincere condolences to the family and friends that I do this," said Coast Guard Capt. Gregory Case at a news briefing in St. Petersburg. "This is probably the most difficult decision I ever have to make in this position," he said.

The family was last heard from Sunday, June 19th after departing Sarasota aboard their 29-foot sailboat en route to Fort Myers.

Ace Kimberly, 45, and his 17 year-old daughter Rebecca were recovered during the five-day search that covered nearly 34,000 square nautical miles off Florida's gulf coast.

Fifteen year-old Donald Kimberly and his 13 year-old brother Roger have not been located.

Around 3 p.m. last Sunday, Ace Kimberly reportedly called his brother saying the sailboat was in 6-foot seas and requesting a weather report.

On Tuesday, the brother alerted the Coast Guard in St. Petersburg that the family was missing and the search began.

A debris field containing items such as water jugs, tarps, life jackets, shoes and a basketball was located early Wednesday.

Later that day Rebecca's body was recovered. According to the Coast Guard, she was wearing a life vest.

Her father's body was located on Thursday about four miles away.

The Coast Guard says it and partner agencies conducted more than 100 searches devoting 250 hours in efforts to find the missing family.

Florida Wildlife Commission will now take over the accident investigation and try to find answers to what happened.

"It’s just difficult when you don’t find everything," said Capt. Case, and "you don’t have anyone left to tell that story.”

Cox Media Group