Why It Matters
The families of six missing crew members from a Massachusetts fishing vessel that sank in January still have no remains to bury. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has now turned to the U.S. Navy, seeking federal military assistance to reach a wreck lying more than 300 feet beneath the Atlantic Ocean — a depth beyond the reach of standard recovery operations.
What Happened
Gov. Healey and State Sen. Bruce Tarr sent a letter to the Secretary of the Navy this week requesting help retrieving evidence and, if feasible, the remains of crew members from the Lily Jean, a 72-foot commercial fishing vessel that sank on January 30 roughly 25 miles off the Massachusetts coast. All seven people aboard died.
The wreck rests at a depth that has made independent recovery efforts impractical. Healey’s office said the governor is specifically seeking retrieval of a video recorder and a hard drive from the vessel that may hold critical information about what caused the sinking. The office also said Healey asked the Navy to assess whether recovering crew remains is feasible, “in keeping with the wishes of each family.”
The Office of the Secretary of the Navy confirmed receipt of the correspondence and said a formal response is being prepared for transmission to the governor’s office.
Prior to the Navy request, Healey had asked both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the U.S. Coast Guard to investigate the onboard equipment. The NTSB indicated it would not lead a retrieval effort, and the Coast Guard has stated that its investigative role focuses on maritime safety improvements rather than evidence recovery or assigning legal liability.
The Victims
The Coast Guard recovered only one body — that of Captain Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo. The six others who perished include crew members Paul Beal Jr., John Rousanidis, Freeman Short, and Sean Therrien, as well as NOAA fisheries observer Jada Samitt. A sixth crew member’s name was not specified in available records.
For the families of the missing, the absence of remains has compounded their grief. Donna Short, mother of 31-year-old Freeman Short — who had been planning a wedding at the time of his death — said recovering her son’s body is about more than closure. “It’s a matter of laying him to rest where his legacy began, next to both of his grandfathers, who are veterans,” she said in public remarks.
By the Numbers
- 7 — total crew members aboard the Lily Jean when it sank
- 1 — body recovered so far (the vessel’s captain)
- 300+ feet — depth at which the wreck rests on the Atlantic floor
- 25 miles — approximate distance from the Massachusetts coast where the vessel went down
- 1,047 square miles — area searched by Coast Guard aircraft, cutters, and small boats in the 24 hours following the sinking
Zoom Out
The case highlights the jurisdictional gaps that can emerge in maritime disaster investigations. The NTSB, which leads major transportation accident investigations on land and in the air, has limited authority and resources for deep-water maritime recovery. The Coast Guard’s mandate centers on future safety improvements rather than evidence retrieval or remains recovery. That leaves grieving families and state officials with few options short of requesting specialized military assistance.
Healey, who has faced political headwinds on other issues — recent polling has shown the governor underwater in approval ratings — has made the Lily Jean case a visible priority since the vessel’s disappearance in January. The bipartisan nature of the Navy request, co-signed by Republican State Sen. Tarr, reflects the cross-party weight the tragedy carries in Massachusetts fishing communities, particularly around Gloucester.
What’s Next
The Navy’s response to Healey’s letter is pending. If the service determines a recovery mission is feasible, it would likely require specialized deep-sea assets. The NTSB and Coast Guard investigations into the cause of the sinking remain ongoing. No timeline has been announced for either the Navy’s reply or the completion of the federal safety investigation.