OVIEDO, Fla. – The body of Jason M. Cobb, one of two boaters who have been missing since Saturday, was found around 5 p.m. Wednesday in Lake Jesup, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Cobb's body was found floating near Bird Island in approximately six feet of water, authorities said. There were no apparent signs of trauma to the body, FWC said.
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Charles T. Jackson, 26, of Deltona remains missing.
Cobb, 30, of Osteen and Jackson were reported missing on Dec. 29 when they did not return home from a boating trip on Lake Jesup, authorities said. The two men had launched at Lemon Bluff about 5:30 p.m. and drove the boat across the lake to Black Hammock fish camp. The two reportedly left Black Hammock in the boat around 1:30 a.m. Dec. 29 heading back to Lemon Bluff and hadn't been seen since.
A friend found the empty boat about 12 hours later approximately three-quarters of a mile north of Black Hammock, on the north shoreline of Lake Jesup. FWC investigators said they suspect the men were somehow ejected from the vessel. There were two life jackets, two paddles and keys to their truck found on the boat.
The FWC, Seminole County Sheriff's Office and Volusia County Sheriff's Office have been searching by vessel, helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft and by foot since Saturday afternoon. In addition, hundreds of friends and family of the men organized their own searches.
"We know how difficult this has been for the family and friends of Jason and Charles, and while this is not the result we all had hoped for, it does at least bring some closure to Jason's family and friends," said Lt. Jeff Hudson, FWC incident commander.
Search efforts will continue tonight and tomorrow for Jackson, authorities said.