Local authorities, including the VIPD, St. Thomas Rescue, along with the U.S. Coast Guard led a 30-hr search and rescue on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, before calling off the effort. By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — Authorities announced on Monday afternoon that their 30-hour search for Todman Davaughn had been called off.
Mr. Davaughn, 51, had been boating near Coki Point Beach and Thatch Cay on St. Thomas when someone called in to report that someone had been ejected from a power boat after it crashed and spun out of control.
St. Thomas Rescue responded immediately, deploying a search and rescue drone. They found the 30-foot white Fountain boat being towed ashore by a friend of Mr. Davaughn, but the sole occupant of the vessel was nowhere to be seen.
The volunteer emergency response organization deployed a boat and divers, while Coast Guard assets including a helicopter, a sentry aircraft, and a 33-foot vessel were dispatched to the area to aid in the search. Coast Guard cutter Joseph Tezanos was also launched, conducting overnight search operations.
On Monday afternoon, however, the unsuccessful search efforts were discontinued and Mr. Davaughn’s family notified.
