On May 1, 1975, Michael Wayne Pearcy, 22, and his friend and business partner, John 'Judd' Miller, 21, disappeared off the coast of Tenants Harbor, Maine. The two men were last seen on a lobster boat that Miller had recently purchased, making their way back from Stockton Springs. Pearcy and Miller were never heard from again. The weather and ocean conditions were reported as ideal for sailing on the day they went missing.
The day following their disappearance, Miller's lobster boat was discovered anchored near Turtle Head on Isle Au Haut. Investigators found the hatch cover was off, which led to speculation that the boat may have overheated. The plywood skiff that had been with the boat was missing. A day later, the skiff was found floating upside down near Belfast, Maine. Despite these discoveries, there was no trace of either Pearcy or Miller.
Investigators believe that both men drowned. They have speculated that one of the men may have fallen into the cold 40-degree water, with the other entering the water in a rescue attempt. Another theory is that they both boarded the skiff to head to shore and encountered trouble in the water. The United States Coast Guard conducted an investigation and issued a report concluding that the two men were presumed lost at sea. The original police file on the case has since been lost. Pearcy's family does not believe he could still be alive, and local fishermen have suggested that the men's bodies may have sunk into deep areas of the bay floor. The cases of Michael Wayne Pearcy and John 'Judd' Miller remain unsolved, and they are still presumed to have drowned at sea.
Last Seen: May 1, 1975
