Police late Sunday recovered the body of one of two kayakers who vanished on Shinnecock Bay off Long Island over the weekend and resumed searching for his friend on Monday morning.
Investigators had been searching for 27-year-old Shane Garcia and Aaron Marano, 25, since Garcia’s girlfriend reported them missing at 8:44 p.m. Saturday when they did not return as expected. They had sent her a photo from near the Ponquogue Bridge before they disappeared.
New York State Police divers pulled Garcia’s body from the water Sunday night, ABC News and other outlets reported. Police resumed searching on Monday for any sign of Marano after suspending efforts Sunday night when it got too dark.
Drones, ATVs and a Suffolk police helicopter assisted in the search, Town of Southampton police spokeswoman Det. Sgt. Gina Laferrera told Newsday. The U.S. Coast Guard joined the search at 6 a.m. Sunday, Southampton police Sgt. Michael Walsh told Newsday.
They started with Garcia’s work van, which police found Saturday parked at the end of Shinnecock Avenue in Hampton Bays. At 12:30 p.m. Sunday, state and Southampton Town marine patrol units trolling Shinnecock Bay discovered two kayaks and two paddles washed ashore near Shinnecock East County Park, police said. After homing in on an area of interest, they found Garcia’s body.
