LYME — The body of a fisherman who had been missing since early Monday morning as been found, according to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Crew searched all day Monday for Julius Thigpen, 50, from Hartford and found his boat, but did not find him. Around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon dive teams found his body.
Police got to the scene just before 3 a.m. Monday morning after Thigpen’s family went searching for him when he didn’t return home. The family found his pickup truck and boat trailer, and then called for help.
Lyme, Essex, Chester and Old Saybrook fire departments responded to the scene, as did The State Police helicopter Trooper 1 and a dive team.
Around 5 p.m. the search was put on hold until Tuesday morning.
According to Sharon Tracy, who lives around the cove, Thigpen had been a “regular” fishing there.
“Often he and his friends would come across the backyards and all of us pretty much have given permission to fish off our backyards,” Tracy said.
Police said Thigpen had life jackets but left them in his pickup.
EnCon Police are continuing to investigate and the State Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.
