Body of Missing Boater Billy Salnik Recovered Near Green Island, Ending Months-Long Search

The Marinette County Sheriff's Office has completed the tragic chapter of a Little Suamico boater's disappearance, recovering the body of Billy Salnik, 32, who went missing after a sailing trip with his two children in July. This heartbreaking discovery follows a series of events that have left the community in mourning.

The body of missing boater Billy Salnik recovered

Billy Salnik's body was identified after the Marinette County Dispatch received a call at 12:06 p.m. from a boater who had possibly located a body near Green Island. The response from the Marinette County Sheriff’s Office and the city of Marinette Fire Department was swift, leading to the recovery and identification of the body as Salnik's.

July was a fateful month for the Salnik family. On July 13, Salnik took his two children, Joshua Salnik, 3, and Charlotte Salnik, 5, sailing from Green Island in the bay, heading towards their destination in Oconto. However, the family never made it to Oconto, and the community was left in suspense as the search for the missing trio unfolded over the next few days.

A Heartbreaking Turn of Events

Two days later, on July 15, the capsized vessel that the family was on, along with the bodies of the two children, were recovered. The news sent shockwaves through the community, and the Marinette County Sheriff’s Office expressed their condolences, stating, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Billy at this time."

As the community mourned the loss, Salnik's mother, Tina, initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral expenses. The campaign garnered overwhelming support, raising $27,205 out of the $30,000 goal as of August 24, providing a glimmer of hope in the midst of tragedy.

An Ongoing Investigation

As the community grapples with the loss, the incident remains under investigation by the Marinette County Medical Examiner's Office and the Marinette County Sheriff’s Office. The city of Marinette Fire Department also assisted in the investigation, highlighting the collaborative efforts to uncover the circumstances surrounding this devastating event.

A Chronology of Events

The timeline of events leading up to the discovery of the children's bodies, as reported by the Door County Sheriff's Department, Oconto County Sheriff's Department, and U.S. Coast Guard, paints a somber picture of the days leading to this tragedy. Salnik and his two children departed Green Island around 4 p.m. on July 13 in an 18-foot sailboat, only to be reported missing the next day when they failed to arrive at their planned destination in Oconto.

Despite the search efforts, the father's truck and trailer were found at the boat ramp on the afternoon of July 15, and calls to Salnik's phone went straight to voicemail. It was only on July 16 that a capsized vessel was retrieved and towed to Fish Creek, followed by the discovery of the two children's bodies in the water about a mile south of where the boat was found.

The tragic discovery of Billy Salnik's body on August 24 brought a chilling conclusion to this harrowing chapter, leaving the community to grapple with the profound loss of a father and his children. The circumstances surrounding this tragic event continue to evoke sorrow and sympathy, as the investigation seeks to provide clarity amidst the anguish.