Investigators reportedly spent about 90 minutes examining the vessel’s crew quarters, but no human remains were seen
Credit: Lily Jean/Facebook
NEED TO KNOW
- Six crew members remain missing after the Lily Jean sank off Gloucester, Mass., on Jan. 30
- A remotely operated vehicle was used to examine the wreckage, but no human remains were found, according to a report from WCVB
- Investigators are analyzing video footage to gather more information and provide closure for the victims’ families
The search for clues pertaining to the location of the six missing members aboard the Lily Jean when it sank off the coast of Gloucester, Mass., on Jan. 30 continues.
While the body of Capt. Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo was previously recovered, NOAA fisheries observer Jada Samitt and crew members Paul Beal Sr., Paul Beal Jr., John Rousanidis, Freeman Short and Sean Therrien remain missing.
The search for the remaining victims was suspended on Saturday, Jan. 31, after all “reasonable” efforts were exhausted, according to the Coast Guard.
Earlier this week, however, the Massachusetts Environmental Police and State Police joined forces to send a remotely operated vehicle more than 300 feet underwater to the Lily Jean wreckage in hopes of finding the remains of the missing crew members, The Boston Globe, NBC 10 Boston, and WCVB reported.
Credit: Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty
“As part of an ongoing effort to help bring closure to the families of the lost crew, the Massachusetts State Police Marine Unit and Underwater Recovery team and Massachusetts Environmental Police conducted a joint mission to assess the Lily Jean’s wreckage using an ROV,” a spokesperson for Governor Maura Healey’s office told The Boston Globe.
“This mission provided additional information about the vessel’s condition which is being reviewed, and we continue to keep in close contact with the families,” the spokesperson added.
Investigators used four cameras as eight people spent about 90 minutes examining the crew quarters, but no human remains were seen, a source told WCVB.
While no other information was made available about the efforts, investigators are conducting further analysis of the video to make sure nothing was missed, WCVB reported.
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, who represents Gloucester, said in a statement per NBC10 Boston that “these efforts are producing valuable information, and it is being carefully reviewed and analyzed.”
“I am confident that at the appropriate time the information they are yielding will give us a greater sense of the situation, and that they will continue as long as necessary,” his statement continued.
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PEOPLE has reached out to Governor Healey’s office and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for comment.
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