UPDATE: On Saturday June 25, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that the two bodies they had found earlier in the week were Ace and Rebecca Kimberly. They have ended their search and rescue mission. Florida Fish and Wildlife will now take over the investigation.

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The Coast Guard has discovered a body in the search for a father and his three teen children aboard a missing 29-foot sailboat near Englewood. The body was found within the search area. No other details were released.

  • Father and his three teen children missing on sailboat in Gulf of Mexico off Sanibel Island
  • Body found in search area; not identitifed yet; search launched Tuesday
  • Coast Guard found debris field about 30 miles off Sanibel Island

Coast Guard officials said during a news conference on Wednesday that a debris field has been located about 30 miles off Sanibel Island. Among the items found were six life vests, water bottles, a tarp, a propane tank and a basketball. Also located; two kayaks that were attached to the back of the boat.

Coast Guard officials said Ace Kimberly, 45, his sons, 13-year-old Roger, 15-year-old Donny and 17-year-old daughter Rebecca were last heard from Sunday morning.

“Finding the kayak(s) and life jackets signals that we are in a dire situation,” said Captain Greg Case, Commander of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. “We are continuing to keep in very close contact with the family and keep them updated on all developments during this difficult time. Locating the debris inside of our search field indicates that we are in the right area, and we are aggressively searching for Ace, Becky, Donny and Roger.”  


Coast Guard Capt. Gregory Case said a search is ongoing for the missing on sailboat in Gulf of Mexico near Englewood.

On Tuesday, Coast Guard officials in St. Petersburg received a report from a concerned family member of the missing sailors stating the family left Sarasota at 7 a.m. Sunday en route to Fort Myers to repair the sailboat.

"So the vessel was not in the best of shape," Case said.

Later Sunday, Kimberly called his brother and stated the sailboat was in a storm, in 6-foot seas and that he was attempting to survive with his children offshore of Englewood.

The Coast Guard launched searches by air and boat from Fort Myers on Tuesday to find the sailboat.

Coast Guard officials are fanning out from the debris site, using computer models to determine where the family may have drifted.

”We're continuing the search," said Case. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families. We know this is a difficult time for them and we are doing everything we can and throwing everything we have at this search at this time."

Case says Kimberly's brother alerted the agency on Tuesday.

The Coast Guard asks mariners to keep a sharp lookout and contact Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg at (727) 824-7506 with any information.