Man Remains Missing 3 Days After His Boat Found Unoccupied

CHESAPEAKE BEACH, MD — Rescue crews are still searching for a missing boater in the Chesapeake Bay.

The Maryland Natural Resources Police identified the boater as Lonnie James Johnson, 65, of Chesapeake Beach.

Officers said they were dispatched Friday morning for a report of an overdue boater last known to be operating a white 23-foot center console vessel out of Chesapeake Beach on Thursday.

The unoccupied boat was found Friday morning in the area of Taylor's Island in Dorchester County after tracking Johnson's cell phone location, authorities said. Taylor's Island is located on the Eastern Shore of the bay, 15 to 20 nautical miles southeast of Chesapeake Beach.

As of Friday morning, the Maryland State Police Aviation, United States Coast Guard, Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department and Saint Leonard Volunteer Fire Department were assisting in the search, utilizing dive and aviation resources.

"As of Monday morning, NRP has no new developments in the search for Lonnie Johnson," Natural Resources Police spokesperson Vincent Hunter Dortenzo told Patch in an email. "Currently, investigators are processing the vessel's chart plotter and the subject's phone that was located aboard to aid in the search."

The Natural Resources Police asked anyone with information on Johnson's whereabouts or related boat activity to call 410-260-8888.

This map shows the area where officers said Johnson's boat was found.