A grim discovery was made in Shinnecock Bay, Long Island, where police divers found the body of one of the two kayakers reported missing over the weekend. According to ABC7NY, Shane Garcia, 27, was found deceased after he and his friend, Aaron Monte-Marano, 25, did not return from their outing on Saturday. The search for Monte-Marano is set to continue on Monday morning.
The details surrounding the incident began to unfold when the Southampton police department discovered Garcia's work van parked at the end of Shinnecock Avenue in Hampton Bays. After Garcia's girlfriend reported him missing, saying he and Montemarano had gone kayaking and had not returned, authorities found their kayaks and paddles washed ashore around noon on Sunday. "Mr. Garcia sent a picture to his girlfriend of himself and his friend Aaron Montemarano while kayaking in Shinnecock Bay near Ponquogue Bridge," the Southampton police stated, as obtained by News 12 Connecticut.
The recovery operation drawn upon reports and an "area of interest" identified by the New York State Police and the Southampton Town Marine Patrol Units led to the unfortunate discovery. Garcia's body was found following an extensive search. Further efforts to locate Montemarano involved local and partner agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard.
"It was reported that local responders located two kayaks and a debris field in the marsh area earlier this morning," informed a Coast Guard spokesperson in a statement to News 12 Connecticut. The community has been urged to support the ongoing search efforts by reporting any relevant information to the Southampton Town Police Department Detective Division or the tip hotline.
