Was There Anyone On The Boat At The Time Of The Fire?
MyFoxLA writes about the boat leaving the harbor:
Witnesses thought they saw two people on the Sea Ray-brand powerboat just before it burst into flames.
Stutin said earlier that a “good Samaritan reported seeing the boat depart from Marina del Rey.” An inflatable boat was tied to the rear.
So where is the dingy? Looks like it’s still tied to the aft of the boat in the videos. Is there more than meets the eye to this one? Detectives also added, off camera according to the MyFoxLA video, that Martinez was estranged from his wife and living in a home off Topanga Canyon Blvd alone and that his mail has been piling up.
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Michael Martinez, 53, of Woodland Hills Missing In Marina del Rey Boat Fire
Authorities have called of the search for Michael Martinez of Woodland Hills and a possible passenger in conjunction with a mysterious boat fire off the coast of Marina del Rey yesterday.
The 27-foot Sea Ray-brand cruiser, the Casey Lynn, was first spotted on fire on Tuesday afternoon about two miles offshore, west of the Venice Pier. Smoke and flames could be seen for miles. The fire was extinguished, but no bodies were found aboard the boat or in the area.
Det. Tim Wainscott of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department said authorities conducted searches for victims all night, but no one has been found.
The registered owner of the boat is 53-year-old Michael Martinez of Woodland Hills. He is employed as a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker in Calabasas. Coworkers described Martinez as a gentleman and an endearing man. Some coworkers were distraught with the thought that something may have happened to him.
Neighbors in Woodland Hills also spoke highly of Martinez, expressing concern about the boat fire.
Martinez’s mother declined to speak with Eyewitness New. Martinez’s son went to see the damage to the boat on Wednesday. He said he had not spoken with his father in several days.
Authorities confirmed on Wednesday that they have spoken with Martinez’s wife.
Because it is still early in the investigation, it’s still not even clear whether the fire was intentionally set.
Anyone with information about the boat fire is urged to call the U.S. Coast Guard at (310) 521-3801.
The Daily News adds this afternoon:
An ocean search was called off Wednesday for a Woodland Hills man and a passenger who may have been aboard a powerboat that burned off the coast of Marina del Rey.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles police continued looking for Michael Martinez, who is the registered owner of the Casey Lynn.
Smoke from the 27-foot recreational cruiser was visible for miles after fire raged aboard the Casey Lyn before 5 p.m. Tuesday, about three miles off the breakwater of Marina del Rey.
But after an all-night search of the 60-degree waters, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its air and water dragnet for the occupants of the boat at 11:10 a.m.
“We’ve exhausted the drift models,” said Lt. Tyler Stutin of the Coast Guard Command Center in San Pedro. “We also have survivability models – we can calculate how long people can survive in these conditions.
“That factored into our decision to suspend the search.”
The Casey Lynn, a white Sea Ray with limited space below deck, was reported seen sailing out of Marina del Ray, where it may have been berthed, Stutin said. It was registered in the Channel Islands.
The Coast Guard scrambled an MH-65C Dolphin helicopter in the air, which searched patrolled all night with infrared goggles while its 87-foot Blackfin cutter patrolled the sea.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department also dispatched two Baywatch boats and a fire patrol cruiser.
In all, Stutin said the search and rescue operation covered 148 square miles, including 812 nautical miles of air and boat sweeps.He said it was rare to find a flaming boat without its occupants.
“It’s definitely not an every day occurrence,” Stutin said. “But it is something we have seen in the past, either from foul play, insurance fraud or a genuine emergency.”
On Wednesday, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s arson investigators continued to pore over the burned out hulk of the Casey Lynn, which had been towed to a Sheriff’s dock.
“Right now, all we have is a burned boat,” said Steve Whitmore, spokesman for Sheriff Lee Baca. “Our job is to determine the origin of the fire.”
If you have anything to add or know Mr. Martinez, please add comments to this post.
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