HAMBURG, NY (WIVB) — The Coast Guard is looking for 37-year-old Giuseppe Reinhart of Niagara Falls, Ontario. Niagara Regional Police are investigating it as a missing persons case.
If you live in the area you probably saw the U.S. Coast Guard C-130 methodically flying over the lake, zig-zagging from point to point for hours Wednesday.
The search was sparked after a small, 14-foot boat containing fishing gear and a cooler of fresh fish washed ashore nearby Tuesday around 1:00 p.m.
“As the Coast Guard we search for people on the water, all of the evidence we have from looking at the remains on-board suggest a person in the water and we will aggressively continue our search efforts,” says Commander Tad Drozdowski.
Officials say the boat had indicators that someone was recently in it – but the owner was nowhere to be found.
The missing man’s family was contacted and they told the authorities that Reinhart left to go fishing on Tuesday morning by himself – but has not returned.
Niagara Regional Police believe Reinhart launched his boat from the Crystal Beach boat ramp in Fort Erie around 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Police found his truck and trailer in the parking lot.
Reinhart would commonly fish alone, police say, and was not a good swimmer. The Coast Guard says the are searching to find Reinhart alive.
“We did have the information off of the chart plotter that his boat was heading in a southerly direction at a rate of speed so with that information, and with his gear still on board, the vessel we have all reason to believe he’s in the water,” says Commander Drozdowski.
When asked if Reinhart possibly faked his own death, Niagara Regional Police said they were “investigating all options” but could not give specific details. A man named Giuseppe Reinhart previously served time in prison for manslaughter, and local newspapers are reporting that man to be the missing fisherman. Reinhart’s half-brother also said it was him. Police wouldn’t confirm details about his past but said he did have a history with police.
As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, the Coast Guard had spent a cumulative 55 hours searching more than 2,700 square nautical miles in the effort to find Reinhart. They tell News 4 they plan to continue the search overnight and into the morning, when they will reassess the situation.
Anyone with information should contact the 2 District Niagara Falls detective office at 905-688-4111 ext 2200.
