Family calls off private search for missing Fla. boys

Jennifer Calfas | USA TODAY

The families of two Florida teens who went missing at sea called off their private search Sunday after weeks of trying to find them.

The private efforts began after the Coast Guard called off the search for Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos, who went missing on July 24 after launching a fishing trip off the Florida coast.

“We love our boys and want them home,” the families said in a joint statement. “Today, our hope becomes our prayer — that one day Perry and Austin will be returned to us. We thank everyone for their dedicated efforts and support.”

After over a week of raising funds and calling on volunteers to help the effort, the family called it off due to no credible evidence found to help find the boys.

In their statement released Sunday, the families said “we will never stop looking for our boys” and thanked the Coast Guard and volunteers for contributing to the search efforts.

The families plan to make a foundation in honor of the boys to promote youth boating education and introduce legislation to increase boat safety measures and prevent future accidents.

The Coast Guard ended its search on July 31. During their investigation, they found the boys’ capsized white, 19-foot fishing boat about 67 miles east of Daytona Beach on July 26 — two days after the boys went missing. The boys were last seen buying over $100 in fishing supplies in Jupiter, Fla. on July 24.

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