The U.S. Coast Guard suspended search and rescue efforts for a missing Sarasota family Saturday.

Captian Gregory Case made the announcement during a press briefing.

  • Two bodies recovered confirmed as dad, Ace, and daughter, Rebecca
  • Brothers Donald and Roger have not been found
  • Rescuers covered 33,830 square miles searching for the family

Ace Kimberly, 45, and his three children – Rebecca Kimberly, 17, Donald Kimberly, 15, and Roger Kimberly, 13, were last heard from on Sunday June 19 after departing Sarasota on their sailboat en route to Fort Myers. The Coast Guard confirmed Saturday that the two bodies they had found earlier in the week were that of Ace and Rebecca. Rebecca was reportedly wearing her life jacket, Ace was not.

Donald and Roger have not been recovered.

According to Case, making the decision to suspend rescue efforts weighed heavily on all involved. The Coast Guard alongside several agencies conducted more than 100 searches covering 33,830 square miles for more than 250 hours in search for the missing Kimberly family.

"This is probably the most difficult decisions I have to make in this position,” said Case.

He thanked the extended Kimberly family for their assistance in the mission, and said he was impressed by how they had come together under such terrible circumstances. In total, he estimated 15 individuals, both family and friends, offered their assistance.

"They're strong," said Case, "and a lot of them reacted more strongly then I think I would."

Florida Fish and Wildlife will now take over the investigation as to what exactly happened on Sunday June 19.

Search and rescue timeline, courtesy U.S. Coast Guard:

  • At 10 a.m. Wednesday, an aircrew from Air Station Clearwater located a debris field 37 miles west of Sanibel. The debris field contained items such as water jugs, tarps, six life jackets, a throwable life ring, a propane tank, a pair of shoes and a basketball.
  • At 12:35 p.m. Wednesday, a crew from Station Fort Myers Beach located a green sit-in kayak in the vicinity of the original debris field matching the description of a kayak known to be with the family. The Coast Guard was able to attribute all of the debris to the missing sailboat.
  • At 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, an MH-60 Helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater located and recovered a body approximately 40 nautical miles west of Sanibel. The body was transferred to local authorities for identification.
  • At 1:15 a.m. Thursday an HC130-Hercules fixed-wing aircrew from Air Station Clearwater located a yellow kayak matching the description of a kayak also known to be with the family.
  • At 2:26 a.m. Thursday a Jayhawk crew and a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew witnessed a white flare while conducting the search.
  • At 8:13 a.m Thursday a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew from Station Fort Myers Beach located a bucket in the search area containing the Kimberly's birth certificates, a GPS, a wallet, two cell phones, cigarettes, a tool box and a pool noodle.
  • At 11:06 a.m. Thursday Cape Coral Fire and Rescue recovered a second body 4 miles southeast of location of first body.

Crews from the Coast Guard Cutter Alligator, Station Fort Myers Beach, Station Cortez, Air Station Clearwater, Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Air Force, Customs and Border Protection, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Iona-McGregor Fire Department and Cape Coral Fire and Rescue aided in the search.