Family of five missing in Gulf of Mexico

Posted 1:42PM on Monday 11th March 2002 ( 23 years ago )

MOBILE, Ala. - A family of five from Alabama that went on a shark fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico has been missing since Saturday. The Coast Guard launched a search Sunday night along the coasts of Alabama, Louisiana and Florida. The family, from Foley, departed a Bon Secour marina about 7 a.m. Saturday and probably got lost in the Gulf amid heavy winds and rains Saturday afternoon, said Petty Officer Mark Mackowiak. Three helicopters, a plane and two search-and-rescue boats have been searching for the 32-foot converted shrimping boat since a relative of the family reported they were missing, Mackowiak said. "Our main concern here is the weather that moved through here on Saturday," he said. "We had some strong winds and extremely strong rains that moved through." The missing family was identified as Rodney Crumm, 45; his wife Beverley, 32; her brother James Taylor, 30; their daughter Sabrina, 19; and a stepdaughter Christina, 12. The search covers 4,020 square miles so far, mostly in waters south of Alabama. The Coast Guard doesn't have much information on where the family could be located, Mackowiak said. A son who reported they were missing said they were traveling about 40 miles off the coast. "We don't know exactly where the family is. We don't know which direction they went in," Mackowiak said. "They could have been pushed off course quite a bit." The Coast Guard has contacted offshore petroleum rigs and asked them to watch for the errant boat. Mackowiak said boaters in the Gulf should be careful to file a float plan, bring a marine radio and life jackets. The Coast Guard is looking for friends of the Crumms who may have information about their boating plans. The Coast Guard can be reached at 504-589-6225.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/3/202852