Sep 10, 2010
Feb 28, 2023
Jefferson
Arms
55
22
69 inches
71 inches
155 lbs
200 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
On a September evening in 1992, a young man named Jefferson "Jeff" Arms, age 22, disappeared into the waters of Lake Champlain, near Plattsburgh, New York. He was on a sailing trip with two friends, enjoying the open water approximately one mile east of Schuyler Island. The group was on a 16-foot Sunfish sailboat when they encountered rough conditions. The turbulent water caused their boat to capsize twice, throwing all three of them into the lake. Fortunately, they were all wearing life jackets. They made the decision to abandon the overturned boat and swim towards the safety of the nearest island, Schuyler Island. As they battled the waves, Jefferson's two friends swam ahead of him. They reported looking back and seeing him swimming behind them for most of the journey. However, by the time they reached the shores of Schuyler Island, Jefferson was no longer in sight. A search was launched, and while the Coast Guard was able to locate the capsized sailboat and Jefferson's life jacket, there was no sign of the young man. Jefferson Arms, a resident of Westminster, Vermont, who was just visiting the Plattsburgh area, was never seen again. At the time of his disappearance, Jefferson was described as a white male with light brown hair and blue eyes. He wore wire-framed eyeglasses and had a scar on one of his knuckles, as well as a chicken pox scar near his eye. He was possibly wearing a red flannel shirt and green shorts on that fateful day. Despite the extensive search and the passage of time, Jefferson's body has never been recovered. While he is presumed to have drowned in the tragic accident, his case officially remains that of a missing person. The New York State Police continue to have his case open, a somber reminder of a young life lost to the unpredictable waters of Lake Champlain.
Sep 18, 1992
Plattsburg
New York
Clinton County
9033
New York State Police - Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh
New York
Clinton County
12901
Jamie Coupal
Investigator
9 Dunning Way, New York
5183147516
State
Law Enforcement
92-1020
New York State Police - Plattsburgh
Brown
Blue
Blue
09/09/2026
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