Missing
James Matthew Meulemans II
James, approximately 1987; James's father, James Matthew Meulemans
Date and time person was reported missing : 12/20/1987
Missing location (approx) :
Brevard County, Florida
Missing classification : Lost/Injured Missing
Gender : Male
Ethnicity :
White
DOB : 06/17/1975 (46)
Age at the time of disappearance: 12 years old
Height / Weight : 4'9, 62 pounds
Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos
: Caucasian male. Brown hair, brown eyes. James's nickname is Jamie, which is sometimes misspelled "Jaime."
Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : Jamie was last seen in Brevard County, Florida on December 20, 1987. He and his father, 39-year-old James Matthew Meulemans, left Port Canaveral at 6:30 a.m. on a fishing expedition in a 21-foot, gas-powered Chris Craft boat. They were meant to be gone for twelve hours and then return by nightfall. The captain was John DeGoes and the only other passenger was Frank Doherty.
The boat never returned to shore. The body of the captain was found about twelve miles off Daytona Beach, Florida on December 26. James's body washed ashore in January; a photo of him is posted with this case summary. Doherty and Jamie were never located and neither was any sign of the boat, in spite of an extensive search.
Authorities aren't sure how the boat apparently ran into trouble, as DeGoes was an experienced captain who frequently led fishing trips, and water conditions were not bad on the day they all went missing. The boat had a radio, but never sent out any distress signals. Both Jamie and Doherty are presumed lost at sea.
Other information and links : ncy
Brevard County Sheriff's Office
321-264-5217
September 2021 updates and sources
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
The Des Moines Register
The Orlando Sentinel
The Palm Beach Post
October 12, 2004. April 21, 2019; .
Interactive Missing Person Search Map
