Search Underway for Four Men Missing After Boating Trip

Multiple law enforcement agencies are currently involved in the search for four men who went missing during a boating trip. According to the City of Venice, the group left for their excursion around 8 a.m. on a Saturday and failed to return as scheduled. Authorities have identified the missing individuals as Ruben Mora Sr., 54, of Port Charlotte, and Angel Hernandez Munoz, 38, Julio Cesar Cordeo Briones, 37, and Vargas Parra, 35, all from North Port.

The missing group

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) reached out to the Venice Police Department (VPD) on Sunday morning to investigate the Marina Park Boat Ramp near the Venice Train Depot. There, they found the group's vehicle and boat trailer. The VPD’s Marine Patrol, in collaboration with the SCSO, the U.S. Coast Guard, Sarasota Police, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, have joined forces to conduct an extensive search from Stump Pass to Longboat Pass.

The missing group set out in a 1995 23-foot white SportCraft vessel with the registration number FL9937HC. The authorities are actively seeking any relevant information from the public to assist in their search efforts.

The situation remains critical as the search continues for the missing men, and the authorities are urging anyone with pertinent information to come forward. The extensive search operation has garnered significant attention and support from the local community.

As the search intensifies, the families and friends of the missing men desperately await any updates in the hope of a safe and positive outcome. The entire community remains hopeful and optimistic, with an outpouring of support for the ongoing search efforts.