Missing Boater Found Dead Near Duck Pond Point

The United States Coast Guard suspended searching for missing boater Ciro Stellges Monday morning near Duck Pond Point after Coast Guard crew discovered his body. 

The USCG and local police had initiated an intensive search for Stellges  after the Riverhead Police were notified through the USCG Sector of the Long Island Sound that they had received a call from a nearby boater who had reported seeing his vessel listing and taking on water approximately three miles north of Jacobs Point.

Commander and Captain Ed Cubanski of the USCG offered condolences to the family of Stellges: "On behalf of the men and women of Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound, I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends affected by this tragedy. Our thoughts are with them in their time of grief.  We appreciate the support of local port partners in our aggressive search and rescue efforts.  Response crews worked tirelessly and covered an enormous search area to locate Mr. Stellges.”

Involved in the search was an MH-60 helicopter rescue crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, a rescue crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Tiger Shark, an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in Newport, R.I., a 45-foot rescue boatcrew from Coast Guard Station New Haven, a 45-foot rescue boatcrew from Guard Station New London as well as the Suffolk County Police Marine and Air division, the Riverhead Police Department, Suffolk County Police Marine and Air division, the Wading River Police Department, and the Southold Police Department.