Body Of 2nd Missing Kayaker Found On Long Island Monday: Police

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — The body of a second missing kayaker on Long Island was found Monday, police said.

According to Southampton Town police, early Monday morning, the Southampton Town Police Department's marine units and the New York State Police Department's underwater recovery team resumed the search of Shinnecock Bay in conjunction with the search efforts on land, utilizing police drones as well as using 4 x 4 vehicles to search the beaches.

At about 11:30 a.m., Southampton Town Police marine units and New York State Police located an area of interest in Shinnecock Bay, police said.

Southampton Town Police detectives were notified and responded. New York State Police divers searched the area and recovered the second missing kayaker, Aaron Montemarno, 25, of Riverhead, police said.

The search for two missing kayakers first ended tragically on Sunday when authorities found the body of the first man.

According to Southampton Town police, the search for the missing kayakers resumed on Sunday at about 6 a.m. At about 12:30 p.m., New York State police and the Southampton Town Police Department's marine patrol units were patrolling Shinnecock Bay, attempting to locate the missing kayakers, when they came upon two kayaks washed ashore, as well as two paddles, in the vicinity of Shinnecock East County Park.

The Southampton Town Police Department's detective division responded to the area to continue the investigation, police said.

The Southampton Town Police Department's community response units and drone unit were also searching the area using drones and ATVs, as well as Suffolk County aviation, police said. New York State Police and the Southampton Town Police Department's marine patrol units located an area of interest, authorities said.

New York State Police divers searched the area and recovered one of the missing kayakers, Shane Garcia, 25, police said.

The water search continued until it became too dark; the search efforts for the second missing kayaker will continue early Monday morning, police said.

On Saturday, police said a report had come in for one missing kayaker in Hampton Bays who was believed to be out on the water with a friend.

According to Southampton Town police, on November 1 at 8:44 p.m., Garcia, 25, was reported missing by his girlfriend, who said he had gone kayaking earlier in the day and had not returned.

He was out on a lime green, two-person kayak, police said.

Officers found Garcia’s work van parked at the end of Shinnecock Avenue in Hampton Bays, police said.

Garcia sent a picture to his girlfriend of himself and his friend Aaron Montemarano, 25, who is shown in the photo wearing a hat, while kayaking in Shinnecock Bay near the Ponquogue Bridge, police said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Southampton Town Police Department's detective division at 631-728-3400; the Southampton Town Police Tips Hotline at 631-728-3454 or Tips email: crimetips@southamptontownny.gov.