In the fall of 1987, 33-year-old Richard Thomas Basgier, a male with brown hair, brown eyes, and a mustache, prepared for a day of fishing off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia. On the morning of October 3rd, he and his 27-year-old companion, Marc McDaniels, set out from Lynnhaven Inlet. Their vessel was a distinctive, bright green 17-foot Sea Eagle Trihull boat, identifiable by its white 85-horsepower Johnson motor and the Virginia license plate number 2525K.
They were headed towards the Chesapeake Light Tower, a popular fishing spot, with the expectation of returning before darkness fell. Mr. Basgier was reportedly wearing a blue jacket and either brown or blue shorts. He had a noticeable scar on his forehead above one of his eyes.
As the day progressed, the weather took a perilous turn. A storm unexpectedly moved through the Hampton Roads area, churning the sea and creating treacherous waves reported to be between 10 and 12 feet high. These conditions would have been extremely dangerous for a small, open-cabin boat like the one Basgier and McDaniels were in. Concerns grew when the two fishermen did not return to shore as planned that evening. The vastness of the Atlantic Ocean, now agitated and unforgiving, held the key to their whereabouts.
An extensive search was presumably launched in the days that followed, though specific details of the immediate search and rescue efforts are not extensively documented in the available records. Despite these efforts, neither Richard Basgier nor Marc McDaniels were ever seen again. Their bright green fishing boat also vanished without a trace, never to be recovered from the depths of the ocean. The case remains open, a painful and unresolved chapter for the families of the two men. Both Richard Basgier and Marc McDaniels are presumed to have been lost at sea, their disappearance a somber reminder of the ocean's formidable power. The Virginia Beach Police Department continues to hold the case file for this long-unsolved disappearance.Last Seen: Oct 3, 1987
