CAROLINA BEACH — Authorities in São Jorge Island, Azores, Portugal, found a boat that belongs to a Carolina Beach resident who went missing last Thanksgiving.
According to the Carolina Beach Police Department, the 2006 Clearwater boat belonging to Joseph Matthew Johnson washed ashore. Authorities contacted the CBPD June 24 after the vessel’s hull number came back registered to Johnson. Johnson was not aboard the boat.
READ MORE: Missing: Carolina Beach boater last seen Monday
The 44-year-old Carolina Beach resident was reported missing Nov. 27 by a friend who arrived in town to join him for a preplanned fishing trip. Johnson was last seen Nov. 22, 11 a.m., leaving the Federal Point Yacht Club marina on his 19-foot Seacraft center console fishing boat.
Johnson is a white male, 6’2”, 220 pounds with strawberry blonde hair; he often fishes offshore near Frying Pan Shoals.
The Coast Guard searched for the boater for over two days, across 7,498 square miles.
According to a press release, the National Missing and Unidentified Persons database was instrumental in leading Portuguese authorities to the Carolina Beach Police Department. Both are working together in order to collect additional evidence or information in the search for Johnson.
“The Carolina Beach Police Department would like to thank the National Missing and Unidentified Persons (NAMUS) in their continued involvement in trying to locate Mr. Johnson,” it noted in a press release.
Anyone with information regarding Johnson should contact 911 or the Carolina Beach Police Department at 910-458-2540.
The investigation is ongoing.
Have comments or tips? Email info@portcitydaily.com
Want to read more from PCD? Subscribe now and then sign up for our newsletter, Wilmington Wire, and get the headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.