On July 24, 2015, 14-year-old Perry Cohen and his friend Austin Stephanos went missing after departing from Jupiter Inlet, Florida, for a fishing trip aboard a 19-foot Seacraft boat. The two boys, both experienced in boating and fishing, set off in the early afternoon, purchasing fuel and using their phones to communicate intermittently. Shortly after leaving, they encountered a severe storm with high winds. This would be the last known communication from either boy.
The Coast Guard initiated an extensive search, covering over 50,000 square miles of ocean. Two days later, the boys’ boat was spotted off the coast of Daytona Beach, but efforts to retrieve it were unsuccessful. The vessel was later discovered adrift near Bermuda in March 2016 by a Norwegian ship, with some of the boys' belongings still on board, including Austin’s damaged iPhone. Despite hopes that the boat’s recovery would yield clues, no trace of Perry or Austin was ever found, and they are presumed lost at sea.
The incident led to legal disputes between the families, particularly over the handling of the recovered iPhone, which Perry’s family wanted examined for potential evidence. Perry’s mother also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Austin's family, alleging negligence in allowing the boys to embark on the trip without proper supervision or safety equipment. Though both families faced legal and personal challenges following the tragedy, Perry’s legacy continues through the Perry J. Cohen Foundation, which supports environmental and educational initiatives.
Last Seen: Jul 24, 2015
