James Begley Missing Person Case

James Matthew Begley, age 64, went missing on August 6, 2017, in Fort Bragg, California. He was last seen kayaking in the Pacific Ocean between midnight and 2:00 a.m. after telling someone he couldn’t sleep and decided to go out on the water. He was reportedly not wearing a wetsuit or life vest, only a tan Carhartt jacket. Later that day, at 2:50 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard found his kayak adrift, empty on the ocean.

Authorities suspect that Begley was lost at sea, though his body was never recovered. Witnesses from prior days mentioned that he had given conflicting statements about his plans, and some speculated that he may have been struggling with an undiagnosed mental illness. Despite an extensive search, he was not found either on land or in the surrounding waters. His case remains unresolved, and he is presumed deceased.
Last Seen: Aug 6, 2017

KAYAKER MISSING FROM FORT... - Missing Pieces Network">KAYAKER MISSING FROM FORT... - Missing Pieces Network

Missing Person / NamUs #MP39794

James Matthew Begley | State of California - Department of Justice

James Matthew Begley - The Charley Project

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