A Florida oncologist and researcher disappeared in the Gulf of Mexico on August 10. The Coast Guard announced that they suspended the search four days later after covering 13,100 square miles for 100 hours and discovering his 33-foot vessel “Vitamin Sea” without any sign of him.
Dr. Chaundre Cross’ boat was discovered floating 16 miles south of Sanibel Island last Thursday. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Collier County Sheriff, Lee County Sheriff, Naples Police, and the St. Petersburg Coast Guard teamed up to search for Cross. Two response boats, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, HC-130J Hercules, HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft, and a patrol boat were used in the search.
“It is always a difficult decision to suspend a search and rescue case,” Capt. Michael Kahle, commander of Sector St. Petersburg, said in a press release. “Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the family and friends of Dr. Cross during this difficult time.”
Cross was last seen departing from the Naples Bay Resort & Marina alone on his boat on Aug. 10, the same day his wife, SarahJo Cross, filed for divorce in Collier County, according to a New York Post report.
Cross’ stepmother Kathy Cady posted on Facebook her gratitude for the U.S. Coast Guard and law enforcement search efforts and thanked her stepson’s “friends and the citizens of Naples who unselfishly gave their time and boats in the search for him.”
“During this time of grief, please offer prayers of support and respectful privacy for our family, ” the Cady family wrote. “Although we now have a void, it will be filled with love, positivity, hope, patience, prayer, and through the Grace of God, comfort. Chaundre’s three children and their mother, his father, stepmother, brothers and their wives, sister, grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and long-time close friends thank you for all that was done in the rescue efforts for Chaundre K. Cross, M.C.”
Cross’ physical description is 5-foot-11, 150 pounds, bald head and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a purple shirt and black pants.
They don’t consider his wife a suspect.
Anyone with information regarding his disappearance call (239) 252-9300
