Jay Hegeman, 74, of Islamorada, Florida, was last seen on October 5, 2023, after renting a 20-foot fishing boat from Snake Creek Marina. He planned to return the boat by 5 PM but never did. The U.S. Coast Guard mounted aerial and maritime searches soon after his disappearance; days later the rented boat was found empty near the coast of Matanzas, Cuba.

Investigators interviewed people close to Hegeman and reviewed security footage but found no clear answers. His brother Gary said Jay had been under financial stress from credit card debt but did not believe Jay would take his own life. Jay had stored his personal firearms in a separate boat at a marina, and no signs of foul play were reported. Friends and colleagues described him as hardworking and reliable, which adds to the mystery of his sudden disappearance.

Does anyone who boated between the Florida Keys and Matanzas in early October 2023 recall seeing Jay or his boat?