BOSTON — The Coast Guard suspended its search Friday for two missing boaters near Block Island, Rhode Island after "exhausting all search efforts."
The Coast Guard searched over roughly 62,000 square miles, about the size of the state of Georgia.
Around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, 54-year-old Linda Carman and her 22-year-old son Nathan Carman were reported missing after they failed to return from an offshore fishing trip. They departed Ram's Point Marina in Point Judith, Rhode Island Saturday evening in the Chicken Pox, a 32-foot center console boat.
There hasn't been any sign of Nathan and Linda or their missing vessel since.
Sharon Hartstein said she has known Linda for over 25 years. She said it’s hard to know her best friend is missing.
“I’m numb. I cry on and off. I’ve gotten calls right and left from people you know I can’t believe they’re doing this why would they stop and what else can we do,” said Hartstein.
She’s encouraging people to put a yellow ribbon on their doors to show their support in bringing the mother and her son home. She said if you don’t have a yellow ribbon you can come to Linda’s house on September 24 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. to make a yellow ribbon. Click here to learn more or volunteer.
She said she still has hope that her best friend will be found.
The search for them included multiple ships in the search and the Coast Guard also worked with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
Anyone with information is still asked to call The Coast Guard's First District command center at 617-223-8555.
