On July 12, 2010, 58-year-old Christopher John Macquarrie disappeared after taking his boat out into the Gulf of Mexico from Sarasota County, Florida. At 2:15 p.m. that day, he left a phone message for a friend, stating his intention to take his 26-foot open console pleasure craft for snorkeling in deep waters. Macquarrie, a resident of Siesta Key, mentioned he planned to return by 8:00 or 8:30 p.m., but he was never heard from again. He left his home unlocked with a float plan on the patio table.
Two days later, the U.S. Coast Guard discovered Macquarrie's boat, with the operating number FL3292GM, adrift and empty. The vessel was found 30 miles offshore from Sanibel Island, which is south of Fort Myers. There was no sign of Macquarrie at the scene. Reports indicated that the key was in the boat's ignition and the engine was in gear, but it had stopped running, possibly due to a lack of oil. The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with the Coast Guard, conducted a search for the missing man.
Macquarrie was a graduate of the University of Florida Law School in 1982 and was admitted to the Florida bar two years later, practicing at a prestigious civil law firm. His life after a divorce in the 1990s included several legal issues, such as three alcohol-related arrests between 1994 and 2004. A notable incident occurred in 2005 when he was charged with holding three people, including his son and legal secretary, at gunpoint on a farm in Reddick, Florida. Macquarrie claimed he believed a lawyer he shared office space with was plotting to kill him, his family, and his secretary. His defense argued he was delusional and believed he was acting in self-defense. He was acquitted of all charges, had his law license reinstated, and resumed his practice. Macquarrie also had a history of mental illness.
Authorities believe that Christopher John Macquarrie was lost at sea, and his body has never been recovered. His case is listed as a missing person by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, with his abandoned vessel found approximately 38 miles west of Sanibel Island.
Last Seen: Jul 12, 2010
