ALASKA / TROY, Texas (KWKT) — In a tragic development, Alaska’s divers have successfully retrieved a fourth set of human remains, which are believed to belong to a member of the Maynard family, as confirmed by the Alaska Department of Public Safety.
The Maynard family, consisting of 42-year-old David, 37-year-old Mary, 11-year-old Colton, and 8-year-old Brantley, has been missing since early August 2024. Their small aluminum boat capsized in Alaskan waters, as previously reported by Nexstar’s KWKT.
The 28-foot vessel was carrying a total of eight individuals when it began to take on water approximately 16 miles from Homer, located off the scenic Kenai Peninsula. The U.S. Coast Guard received an emergency call regarding the boat and alerted nearby vessels to the dire situation.
Fortunately, a nearby boat named the Salty Sea managed to reach the capsized vessel and rescued four individuals from a life raft. However, extensive search efforts for the remaining members of the Maynard family were ultimately suspended after nearly 24 hours of searching.
Earlier in the year, recovery efforts resumed when Alaska Wildlife Troopers were approached by Support Vessels of Alaska, Vision Subsea, and Benthic Geoscience Inc., offering specialized tools to assist in locating the missing boat.
In early May, the submerged vessel was discovered at a depth of 180 feet. A remotely-operated vehicle helped confirm the presence of possible human remains still onboard.
In late May, dedicated volunteers from the Alaska Dive Search, Rescue, and Recovery Team, alongside wildlife troopers, conducted dive operations, successfully retrieving three sets of remains, which were sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy and identification. Next of kin were promptly informed.
This week, further dives were carried out around the wreckage, leading to the recovery of additional human remains, which are now awaiting forensic examination and identification. Authorities believe these remains also belong to the Maynard family.
Further information is still pending.