Missing Florida Teens, Perry Cohen & Austin Stephanos, Boat Found off Bermuda Coast

The U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission confirmed the discovery of the single-engine vessel on which Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos, both 14. The 19-foot Seacraft vessel was found March 18 by the Norwegian ship Edda Fjord about 100 miles off the coast of Bermuda or about 1,000 miles from where Stephanos and Cohen were last seen before setting off on their fishing trip. The boat was  discovered off Bermuda nearly eight months after they vanished on July 24, 2015. Their vessel had initially been found by the Coast Guard two days after the teens were last seen; however, although Coast Guard rescuers located it near New Smyrna Beach, the vessel wasn’t secured and floated away. Now the boat has finally been found.

Pic: ABC Local 10

A marine supply store sticker and engine serial number helped authorities identify the boat of two Florida teens who went missing at sea last summer.

The discovery of the single-engine vessel on which Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos, both 14, got lost at sea during a burst of severe weather on July 24 was confirmed Saturday by the U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.

The 19-foot Seacraft vessel was found March 18 by the Norwegian ship Edda Fjord about 100 miles off the coast of Bermuda, Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Ryan Doss said in a statement. There was no immediate indication of what happened to the missing boys.

The boat, which was in the shipping lane, was removed from the water by the crew of Norwegian ship, according to Doss. Personal items were found on board, including a cell phone and plastic tackle boxes.

The marine store sticker and engine serial number helped identify the owner, Doss said.