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 continues its search for a missing family last seen aboard a 29-foot sailboat near Engelwood.

  • Report of mast found turned out to be false; was crab pot, fishing gear
  • Second body found; no identities released yet
  • Search launched Tuesday
  • Additional debris found early Thursday; search ongoing
  • Sailboat mast found offshore Fort Myers; Coast Guard to investigate
  • Father and his 3 teen children missing on sailboat in Gulf of Mexico
  • Coast Guard found debris field about 30 miles off Sanibel Island

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.

A search began Tuesday and a debris field was located about 30 miles off Sanibel Island.

According to the Coast Guard, the second body was recovered shortly after 11 a.m. Thursday, four miles southeast of location of first body. A sailboat mast was also found 101 miles offshore Fort Myers. The Coast Guard is en route to investigate.

During a news conference Thursday, Coast Guard Captain Greg Case said some additional items have been found in the debris zone.

Case said a yellow kayak was recovered early Thursday, in addition to a bucket found containing birth certificates, a GPS, wallets, a cell phone, cigarettes, a pool noodle and a tool box.


A yellow kayak matching the description of the one known to be with the missing Kimberly family on their sailboat was recovered by Coast Guard officials early Thursday morning.

Case said the items were found just after 8 a.m. about six miles west of where the body was found Wednesday.

A Coast Guard helicopter and plane reported seeing a possible flare for a few seconds around 3 a.m. in the search area. Crews are continuing to use a combination of planes and helicopters and boats today as the weather continues to be favorable.

"This is still an active search," said Case, Commander of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. "Although it is a dire situation. We will continue to use all available resources."

The sailboat was pulling two kayaks officials said. The first kayak was recovered Wednesday.

Boater knew family

Matt Baker said he's been living on a boat in Sarasota bay since February and met the Kimberly family.

"We're wondering if anybody is left alive out there," he said.

Baker said the teens were well-behaved.

"I see kids today from school and they've got everything they need and these kids have no running water. They've got to come to shore to go use facilities and eat and everything and no complaints, good attitudes and that has a lot to be said for their dad teaching them right,” he said.

The family anchored in an area of Sarasota bay where transient boaters can stay for free. Baker said the Kimberly family was always helpful.

"I didn't have my mast up. So, Ace come right out and he said, 'I'll help you get it up.' So, the kids come out and I figured they were going to watch. They all piled on the boat and get up there and they're doing this and he's telling them to do this and he says, 'you know better than that, I taught you better than that.' And they helped me get the mast up in the rain,” he said. “It's sad."

Seach began Tuesday

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.

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. 

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.