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Thomas Richmond Missing Person Case

Last seen in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina on Jul 1, 2010

Victim Details

Jul 6, 2010

Dec 20, 2023

Thomas

Richmond

72

56

62 inches

72 inches

120 lbs

250 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Jul 1, 2010

Ocean Isle Beach

North Carolina

Brunswick County

21156

Ocean Isle Beach Police Department

Ocean Isle Beach

North Carolina

Brunswick County

28469

Brian Higgins

Captain

3 West Third Street, North Carolina

9105794221

Local

Law Enforcement

100150a

Ocean Isle Beach Police Department

Gray or Partially Gray

Brown

Brown

Oct 5, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP7644) and 9 other sources
On July 1, 2010, 56-year-old Thomas 'Andy' Richmond, a male resident of Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, embarked on a solo boating trip from his canal-side home. He set out at approximately 8:30 a.m. in his 28-foot fishing boat, aptly named 'Heads or Tails'. When he did not return as expected, his wife reported him overdue at 10:00 p.m. that evening. A sense of unease settled over the coastal community as the hours stretched on with no word from the avid fisherman. He was a well-known figure in the Ocean Isle Beach community.

Later that same night, at around 11:20 p.m., Richmond's boat was discovered washed ashore just south of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The vessel was found by tourists who were struck by the unusual sight of the boat with its engine still running and lights still on. Worryingly, there was no sign of Richmond himself. The discovery of the empty boat triggered a large-scale search and rescue operation. A tracking device on the boat indicated that it had traveled a distance of 167 miles.

The United States Coast Guard, along with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and Horry County authorities, launched an extensive search. For approximately 48 hours, rescue crews scoured an area of 1,783 square nautical miles, a search zone roughly the size of the state of Rhode Island, in a desperate attempt to find him. The search efforts, conducted by both air and sea, unfortunately, yielded no trace of Thomas Richmond. Despite the exhaustive search, he was never found and is presumed to be lost at sea. In April of 2011, a court issued a legal declaration of death. His case remains a heartbreaking mystery for his family and the close-knit community of Ocean Isle Beach.
Last Seen: Jul 1, 2010

Links to Additional Sources (9)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP7644
  • Boat of missing NC man washed ashore in SC - BlueRidgeNow.com
  • Neighbors remember missing boater - WMBF News
  • Thomas Andrew Richmond - The Charley Project
  • Coast Guard suspends search for missing North Carolina man off ...
  • Search continues for missing OIB fisherman - WWAYTV3
  • Family, USCG search for clues on missing NC boater - WMBF News
  • Search continues for missing Ocean Isle Beach boater - SCNow
  • Thomas Andrew “Andy” Richmond (1954-2010) - Find a Grave

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (2)

    Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

    76%Possible
    John Doe — Dunn, North Carolina - unidentified case UP139494
    John Doe — Dunn, North Carolina
    UP139494 • Found Dec 24, 2024
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 58–72 vs 56 when missing
    Race 60%Hispanic
    Location 83%71 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 14 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'7" vs 5'2"–6'0"
    Weight 100%137 lb vs 120–250 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    75%Possible
    John Doe — Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
    UP80105 • Found Jan 24, 2021
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 56 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 93%38 mi away
    TimingFound 11 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3"–5'9" vs 5'2"–6'0"

    These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

    Latest News

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    Forum Posts (2)

    Hey everyone, I’ve been going through the threads on Thomas “Andy” Richmond’s disappearance and... ...Read More
    11/05/2024
    One thing that's always intrigued me about the Thomas "Andy" Richmond case is the boat itself. How... ...Read More
    06/01/2023

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