Double tragedy off Maine coast after fisherman and girlfriend encountered SHIPWRECK while gathering clams
Shawn Arsenault, 64, and Felicia Daley, 54, vanished without a trace after setting off from Rock Harbor in Orleans, Massachusetts to go clamming on Sunday.
A frantic manhunt was launched for the pair, with officials finally finding Arsenault's sunken boat three days later about five miles away, near Eastham.
The couple were found inside the 'wheelhouse' of the boat, the captain's brother Paul Arsenault told the Boston Globe.
They were not wearing life jackets and had not made a distress call, he added.
Paul suspects his brother's beloved Seahorse, a 30-foot white-hulled vessel, got 'hooked up on a wreck that was on the bottom of the ocean'.
He thinks the incident 'happened so fast' that Arsenault and Daley were unable to contact emergency services for help.
The Coast Guard is also investigating reports that the fisherman threw electronic electronic equipment into the water before leaving the harbor.
Arsenault and Daley planned to go clamming near the Target Ship Wreck in Cape Cod Bay aboard the Seahorse, which features a painted mermaid on the bow.
They were reported missing on Tuesday morning when the harbormaster saw Arsenault's truck still parked at marina two days after the Seahorse left the harbor.
Authorities began to search for the pair at the boat's last known location, which according to a cell phone ping was roughly two miles offshore from Chatham.
Search crews were set to both sides of the harbor because 'phone pings have a high degree of variability'.
The Coast Guard issued an urgent emergency alert and carried out an extensive search of Cape Cod Bay's fishing area overnight.
A recreational fisherman spotted Arsenault's missing boat on Wednesday morning which, according to the Coast Guard, was found 'off shore inside the bay'.
The cellphone ping 'put them offshore in Chatham on the wrong side', a spokesperson added.
Officials previously said weather likely wasn't a factor in their disappearance, although search efforts were hampered by fog and thunderstorms.
Paul said his brother and Daley, who had been dating for several months, were both experienced on boats.
He told the newspaper that owning the Seahorse was 'Shawn's dream' and Sunday marked 'only his third time out' on the boat.
Arsenault recently got 'new radar' and a 'fish finder', Paul added, noting his brother 'was excited' about his new equipment.
Witnesses reported seeing Arsenault throw equipment overboard when he left the dock on Sunday morning.
'I noticed in the surf there was something floating, so I went down to see what it was, and it turned out to be a GPS unit off of a boat,' local resident Sam Miller, who spotted the device while walking along the beach with her father told CBS Boston.
'We could tell it was a GPS unit off a boat... it had blue tape on it that said 'F/V Seahorse.'
The Coast Guard confirmed it have received reports from locals, but did not say what equipment may have been tossed. The agency is investigating the reports.
But Paul remains skeptical, telling the Globe that he 'can't imagine' Arsenault throwing anything overboard because 'all that stuff means a lot to him'.
The grieving brother also paid tribute to Arsenault and his partner, whom he claims were 'absolutely nuts about each other'.
He hailed the fishing captain as a 'hero' and said he was 'very loved in his community', sharing how Arsenault would go out of his way to help those in need.
'There was one gentleman with Parkinson's ... my brother would cook him dinner every night and walk it down to him,' he told the newspaper. 'That's the kind of person he was.'
Arsenault also 'loved being on the water,' Paul explained, telling WCVB: 'He loved the excitement. He loved being his own boss. He loved being a captain.'
He added the tragedy is 'like a nightmare' and he is still 'waiting to wake up'.
The couple's friends are also mourning their deaths, with Arsenault's friend Patrick sharing how the late fisherman was 'cracking jokes' and had a voice so loud that 'you would know he was in the next town over'.
Daley's friend Scott Amerault told TV station 'if you had her as a friend, you had a good friend'.
Although he is wondering what went wrong in the harbor, Amerault said the ocean 'takes you when it wants to' and 'you can't question what the ocean does'.
Some locals have suggested the structure of the boat may have contributed to the tragedy, with one alleging it was 'not a very stable boat'.
'It had a round shine, and a lot of gear high. If it got hung up on a drag or something like that, it'd go right over,' charter operator Hap Farrell to WCVB.
Coast Guard Commander Cliff Graham, in a statement to NBC 10, confirmed the tragedy and said: 'Our hearts go out to the families of both persons onboard.
'The level of support from our maritime response partners and members from the fishing and local community was remarkable. It directly contributed to detection of the vessel and closure for the family.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
13 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Dramatic moment Sean 'Diddy' Combs' twin daughters are KICKED OFF rollercoaster over rude act
Sean ' Diddy ' Combs' twin daughters, D'Lila Star and Jessie James, 18, were dramatically kicked off of a rollercoaster ride at the Orange County Fair after reportedly failing to follow a simple rule. According to footage of the incident obtained by the Daily Mail, the twins were seen sitting on the ride with their friends waiting for it to take off. But suddenly, one of the fair workers began speaking to them, and shortly thereafter, the twins, whose mom is the late Kim Porter, were seen getting off the ride before it began. According to TMZ, the teens were asked to leave the ride because they were 'told to put their phones away by staff three times' but simply 'wouldn't listen.' However, another source told the publication that the conductor of the ride was being 'rude' when he requested they put their devices away. The girls were not kicked out of the Orange County Fair, and were reportedly given tickets to ride the rollercoaster at a different time. The Daily Mail has reached out to the twins and the fair for comment. The twins graduated from high school in May, as they showed off their diplomas in a post on Instagram. They later revealed that they will not be attending college - and of course, this is all happening as their father is being held in prison as he awaits sentencing. In July, Diddy was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution after a blockbuster, nine-week trial in New York. The jury found he arranged for male escorts to have sex with his ex-girlfriends, Cassandra Ventura and 'Jane,' who testified anonymously, at sexual performances known as 'Freak Offs.' Cassie gave an emotional testimony in court about the abuse she suffered at the hands of Diddy - just two weeks before she was set to give birth. She accused Diddy of revolting sexual acts, and testified that he controlled every aspect of her life during their decade-long relationship, kept her in check through violence, and left guns lying around to 'scare' her. After Cassie gave her emotional testimony, jurors were forced to watch three videos purported to show her and male prostitutes engaged in the 'freak offs.' But in a huge upset to the prosecution, Diddy was acquitted of the more serious counts, conspiracy racketeering and two counts of sex trafficking, which could have seen him jailed for life. He still faces up to 20 years in jail, but prosecutors believe he may get closer to five, as he doesn't have any previous criminal record. During the trial, his twin daughters showed up at court to support him. Just days later, the Combs twins launched their new clothing line, 12TWINTY1. They shared the news in an Instagram post at the time. They said: 'We are launching our very own clothing line, welcome to 12TWINTY1. This line is more than just fashion, it's personal to us. 'Everyone always asks if we really think alike. And the answer is, definitely. The connection we have is just beyond words and that connection is the heart of our brand. '1221 is super meaningful to us because not only is it our birthday, but the numbers themselves also tell a story. 'The number one symbolizes boldness, leadership and the start of something new and the number two represents love, harmony and connection. 'And together, these numbers represent who we are. We created 12TWINTY1 to reflect that energy where comfort means confidence. This brand is for everyone. 'Everyday pieces that look good, feel good and mean something. This is 12TWINTY1 on connections made for the mirror, ready for the world.'
The Independent
15 minutes ago
- The Independent
Influencers injured by car while filming restaurant review
An influencer couple, Nina Santiago and Patrick Blackwood, narrowly escaped serious injury when an SUV crashed through the window of a Houston restaurant where they were dining. The incident occurred at CuVée's Culinary Creations, with the vehicle striking close to their table, causing glass and food to fly. Both Santiago and Blackwood sustained cuts, with Santiago receiving slashes to her hand and face, and Blackwood a cut on his cheek. The couple, who vlog their lifestyle, stated this was their second accident within the same month. The restaurant confirmed that all patrons and staff were safe, though it remains unclear if the SUV driver will face charges.
Daily Mail
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
American gymnastics rocked by new abuse scandal as FBI arrest coach on child pornography charge
The U.S. gymnastics world was only just recovering from a devastating sexual abuse scandal when a promising young coach moved from Mississippi to Iowa to take a job in 2018 at an elite academy known for training Olympic champions. Liang 'Chow' Qiao, the owner of Chow´s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, thought highly enough of his new hire, Sean Gardner, to put him in charge of the club's premier junior event and to coach some of its most promising girls. But four years later, Gardner was gone from Chow´s with little notice. USA Gymnastics, the organization rocked by the Larry Nassar sex-abuse crisis that led to the creation of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, had been informed by the watchdog group that Gardner was placed on its website's banned list and was suspended from all contact with gymnasts. The reason for Gardner´s removal wasn´t publicly disclosed. But court records show the coach was accused of sexually abusing at least three young gymnasts at Chow´s and secretly recording others undressing in a gym bathroom at his prior job in Mississippi. Last week, more than three years after being suspended from coaching, the FBI arrested Gardner, 38, on a federal child pornography charge. The FBI said Tuesday it believes Gardner 'primarily targeted children' at the gyms in Iowa and Mississippi, as well as at a third one in Louisiana where he worked for 10 years until 2014, and was seeking to identify additional potential victims. His disciplinary case has still not been resolved by SafeSport, which handles sex-abuse cases in Olympic sports. In cases like Gardner´s, the public can be in the dark for years while SafeSport investigates and sanctions coaches. SafeSport requires that allegations be reported to police to ensure abusers don´t run unchecked outside of sports, but critics say the system is a slow, murky process. 'From an outward operational view, it seems that if SafeSport is involved in any way, the situation turns glow-in-the-dark toxic,' said attorney Steve Silvey, a longtime SafeSport critic who has represented people in cases involving the center. While acknowledging there can be delays as its investigations unfold, SafeSport defended its temporary suspensions in a statement as 'a unique and valuable intervention' when there are concerns of a risk to others. Nevertheless, in 2024, Gardner was able to land a job helping care for surgical patients at an Iowa hospital - two years after the abuse allegations against him were reported to SafeSport and the police. And it was not until late May that West Des Moines police executed a search warrant at his home, eventually leading to the recovery of a trove of photos and videos on his computer and cellphone of nude young girls, court records show. Authorities in Iowa sealed the court documents earlier this month, before details of the federal charge were made public Friday. Gardner, Qiao and Gardner´s former employer in Mississippi did not respond to requests for comment. Chow´s Gymnastics is best known as the academy where U.S. gymnasts Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas trained before becoming gold medalists at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Qiao opened the gym in 1998 after starring on the Chinese national team and moving to the United States to coach at the University of Iowa. The gym became a draw for top youth gymnasts, with some families moving to Iowa to train there. Gardner moved to Iowa in September 2018, jumping at the opportunity to coach under Qiao. 'This is the job that I´ve always wanted. Chow is really someone I have looked up to since I´ve been coaching,' Gardner told the ABC affiliate WOI-TV in 2019. 'And you can tell when you step foot in the gym, just even from coaching the girls, the culture that he´s built. It´s amazing. It´s beautiful.' A year later, Gardner was promoted to director of Chow´s Winter Classic, an annual meet that draws more than 1,000 gymnasts to Iowa. He also coached a junior Olympics team during his four-year tenure at Chow´s. Several of his students earned college gymnastics scholarships, but Gardner said he had bigger goals. 'You want to leave a thumbprint on their life, so when they go off hopefully to school, to bigger and better things, that they remember Chow´s as family,' he said in a 2020 interview with WOI-TV. Gardner is accused of abusing his position at Chow´s and his former job at Jump´In Gymnastics in Mississippi to prey on girls under his tutelage, according to a nine-page FBI affidavit released Friday that summarizes the allegations against him. A girl reported to SafeSport in March 2022 that Gardner used 'inappropriate spotting techniques' in which he would put his hands between her legs and touch her vagina, the affidavit said. It said she alleged Gardner would ask girls if they were sexually active and call them 'idiots, sluts, and whores.' She said this behavior began after his hiring in 2018 and continued until she left the gym in 2020 and provided the names of six other potential victims. SafeSport suspended Gardner in July 2022 - four months after the girl's report - a provisional step it can take in severe cases with 'sufficient evidentiary support' as investigations proceed. A month after that, the center received a report from another girl alleging additional 'sexual contact and physical abuse,' including that Gardner similarly fondled her during workouts, the FBI affidavit said. The girl said that he once dragged her across the carpet so hard that it burned her buttocks, the affidavit said. SafeSport shared the reports with West Des Moines police, in line with its policy requiring adults who interact with youth athletes to disclose potential criminal cases to law enforcement. While SafeSport's suspension took Gardner out of gymnastics, the criminal investigation quickly hit a roadblock. Police records show a detective told SafeSport to urge the alleged victims to file criminal complaints, but only one of their mothers contacted police in 2022. That woman said her daughter did not want to pursue criminal charges, and police suspended the investigation. Victims of abuse are often reluctant to cooperate with police, said Ken Lang, a retired detective and associate professor of criminal justice at Milligan University. 'In this case you have the prestige of this facility,' he said. 'Do they want to associate their name with that, in that way, when their aspirations were to succeed in gymnastics?' Police suspended the investigation, even as Gardner was on probation for his second offense of driving while intoxicated. The case stayed dormant until April 2024 when another former Chow´s student came forward to the West Des Moines Police Department to report abuse allegations, according to a now-sealed affidavit signed by police detective Jeff Lyon. The now 18-year-old told police she began taking lessons from Gardner when she was 11 or 12 in 2019, initially seeing him as a 'father figure' who tried to help her get through her parents´ divorce. He told her she could tell him 'anything,' the affidavit said. When she moved in 2021, she told police, he gave her a hug and said she could text and follow him on Instagram and other social media sites, where he went by the nickname 'Coach Seanie,' because gym policy barring such contact no longer applied. According to a summary of her statement provided in Lyon´s affidavit, she said Gardner fondled her during exercises, repeatedly touching her vagina; rubbed her back and butt and discussed his sex life; and made her do inappropriate stretches that exposed her privates. She told police she suspected he used his cellphone to film her in that position. The teen´s mother declined comment. The mother told police she was interested in a monetary settlement with Chow´s because the gym 'had been made aware of the complaints and they did nothing to stop them,' according to Lyon´s affidavit. The gym didn´t return messages seeking comment. It took 16 months after the teen´s 2024 report for the FBI to arrest Gardner, who made an initial court appearance in Des Moines on Friday on a charge of producing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, which can carry up to 30 years in prison. A public defender assigned to represent him didn´t return messages seeking comment. Gardner is being detained at the Polk County Jail in Des Moines and will be transported to Mississippi to face the charge there, a spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals Service said. It´s unclear why the case took so long to investigate and also when the FBI, which had to pay $138 million to Nassar´s victims for botching that investigation, got involved in the case. Among evidence seized by investigators in late May were a cellphone, laptop and a desktop computer along with handwritten notes between Gardner and his former pupils, according to the sealed court documents. They found images of girls, approximately 6 to 14 years in age, who were nude, using the toilet or changing into leotards, those documents show. Those images appear to have come from a hidden camera in a restroom. They also uncovered 50 video files and 400 photos, including some that appeared to be child pornography, according to the FBI affidavit. One video allegedly shows Gardner entering the bathroom and turning off the camera. Investigators also found images of an adult woman secretly filmed entering and exiting a bathtub, and identified her as Gardner´s ex-girlfriend. That woman as well as the gym´s owner, Candi Workman, told investigators the images appeared to come from Jump´In Gymnastics´ facility in Purvis, Mississippi, where Gardner worked from 2014 to 2018 and has since been closed. The FBI said that Gardner worked at Athletes in Motion in Prairieville, Louisiana, from 2004 to 2014. Athletes in Motion said that it had recently been notified about the investigation and was cooperating with authorities. 'We have coached athletes in our community for over 40 years and care deeply about the safety of all athletes in this sport,' a gym statement said. SafeSport has long touted that it can deliver sanctions in cases where criminal charges are not pursued as key to its mission. However, Gardner´s ability to land a job in health care illustrates the limits of that power: It can ban people from sports but that sanction is not guaranteed to reach the general public. While not commenting about Gardner´s case directly, SafeSport said in a statement that a number of issues factor into why cases can take so long to close, including the 8,000 reports it receives a year with only around 30 full-time investigators. It has revamped some procedures, it said, in an attempt to become more efficient. 'While the Center is able and often does cooperate in law enforcement investigations,' it said, 'law enforcement is not required to share information, updates, or even confirm an investigation is ongoing.' USA Gymnastics President Li Li Leung called SafeSport's task 'really tough, difficult to navigate.' 'I would like to see more consistency with their outcomes and sanctions,' Leung said. 'I would like to see more standardization on things. I would like to see more communication, more transparency from their side.' As the investigation proceeded, Gardner said on his Facebook page he landed a new job in May 2024 as a surgical technologist at MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center. It's a role that calls for positioning patients on the operating room table, and assisting with procedures and post-surgery care. Asked about Gardner´s employment, hospital spokesman Todd Mizener said: 'The only information I can provide is that he is no longer' at the hospital. Meanwhile, the case lingers, leaving lives in limbo more than three years after the SafeSport Center and police first learned of it. 'SafeSport is now part of a larger problem rather than a solution, if it was ever a solution,' said attorney Silvey. 'The most fundamental professional task such as coordination with local or federal law enforcement gets botched on a daily basis, hundreds of times a year now.'
