Names Of Father-Daughter Drowning Victims Released By Pinellas Sheriff

PASS-A-GRILLE, FL — Pinellas County sheriff's detectives are investigating a drowning Sunday that claimed the lives of a father and his 10-year-old daughter.

At 6:43 p.m., deputies responded to Pass-a-Grille Beach after receiving reports of two people being swept offshore by a rip current.

According to detectives, 42-year-old Michael Stephens was at Pass-a-Grille Beach with his daughters, 10-year-old Isabella Stephens, 13-year-old Trinity Stephens and 20-year-old Brittany Stephens, and Brittany's boyfriend, 20-year-old Jessie Johnson.

Detectives said Michael, Brittany and Isabella Stephens and Jessie Johnson were in the water when they noticed the rip current strengthening.

Jessie Johnson helped his girlfriend get out of the water and then returned to help Michael and Isabella Stephens but said they were too far from shore and the current was too strong for him to reach them, according to detectives.

While Johnson was attempting the rescue, Isabella and Trinity Stephens called 911 and then handed their phone to a passerby, so they could assist Johnson.

At 7:57 p.m., deputies assigned to the sheriff's flight unit spotted Michael and Isabella Johnson about half mile off the coast. With assistance from the Coast Guard and St. Pete Beach Fire Rescue, deputies with the sheriff's marine unit picked up Michael and Isabella Johnson in a boat and took them back to land. They were taken to the hospital where they were both pronounced dead.