A missing Fort Myers man was found Tuesday along the shoreline of Everglades National Park beside a 26-foot boat reported stolen from the Florida Keys. Dustin Southwick, 32, was arrested around 11 a.m. and charged with grand theft after officials said the vessel ran out of fuel and was beached.
The case began Saturday, when the boat’s owner reported it missing at about 7:30 a.m. from a residential dock on 85th Street in Marathon. According to a report by Tampa Free Press, the owner told deputies he knew Southwick and said the 26-foot Edgewater was taken without permission; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office issued an arrest warrant that day.
Search Ends With A Shoreline Sighting
The National Park Service describes Everglades National Park as covering about 1.5 million acres across South Florida, creating a sprawling maritime setting for a search involving park officials and the Coast Guard. The break came when a good Samaritan spotted Southwick along the shoreline and alerted authorities.
Officials told Tampa Free Press that Southwick said the boat ran out of fuel, forcing him to beach it. He reportedly told authorities he survived on crackers, water and electrolyte drinks, and no life-threatening injuries were reported.
Another Recent Keys Watercraft Theft Case
The arrest follows another recent watercraft-theft case in Monroe County. In April, WSVN reported that a Homestead man was arrested after deputies said he stole a personal watercraft, fled into the mangroves and was later charged with grand theft of a vessel and other offenses.
Investigation Remains Open
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies said the investigation into the Marathon boat theft remains ongoing. Additional charges may be filed, while the grand-theft allegation against Southwick remains unresolved in court.
