Ellen Ruth Domb, a 79-year-old woman from Key West, Florida, was reported missing on December 5, 2025. She was last seen while participating in a recreational scuba dive on the wreck of the USNS Vandenberg, located offshore in Monroe County. Domb, an experienced diver, began her descent from the private vessel *Activated Eau* but was quickly separated from her diving partner due to strong currents. While her partner was rescued by a nearby boat, Domb continued her descent alone and failed to resurface as planned.
At the time of her disappearance, Domb was equipped with standard scuba diving gear. This included a TUSA Liberator Sigma II buoyancy compensator jacket with the serial number K0510010, a 14-pound weight belt, and distinctive yellow and green fins. She was also using a silver, aluminum 80-cubic-foot scuba tank in a single-tank configuration.
Following the incident, the United States Coast Guard, in conjunction with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and other agencies, initiated an extensive multi-day search and rescue operation. These efforts involved surface, subsurface, and aerial assets canvassing the area around the Vandenberg wreck. Despite the thorough search, there has been no sign of Domb. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is handling the ongoing investigation into her disappearance.
Last Seen: Dec 05, 2025
