Nearly a year after their disappearance, a Texas family boat found in Alaska revealed a heartbreaking discovery in Kachemak Bay. Officials confirmed Wednesday that divers recovered three sets of human remains from the sunken 28-foot aluminum vessel.
The recovery followed a renewed private search launched this April by three Alaska-based companies, including one specializing in underwater sonar detection. In early May, searchers detected the vessel 180 feet below the surface just off the coast of Homer.
Divers from Alaska’s Department of Public Safety descended on Tuesday and Wednesday, successfully retrieving the remains. Authorities transported the bodies to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsies and identification. No timeline has been provided for when the remains will be formally identified.
The boat belonged to the Maynard family of Troy, Texas. Mary Maynard, 37, and David Maynard, 42, were abroad with their sons Colton, 11, and Brantley, 8. They vanished in August after their boat reportedly began taking on water during a trip with four other passengers.
At the time, a nearby vessel had rescued four other people. Despite extensive efforts by the US Coast Guard and local search and rescue teams, the Maynard family was never found. A GoFundMe supporting the family raised over $21,000 and celebrated their warmth and laughter.
