Dad and Son Vanished on Fishing Trip — 12 Years Later, They Found The Boat | HO!!!!

CRESCENT HARBOR, MAINE — On the morning of June 15, 2011, Thomas Peton and his teenage son Jake set out from their small coastal town for what should have been a routine fishing trip. By sunset, the Petons and their boat, the Second Chance, had vanished without a trace. For twelve agonizing years, their disappearance haunted a family, baffled investigators, and left a tight-knit community grasping for answers.

Now, in an extraordinary turn of events, the mystery that gripped Crescent Harbor for over a decade has finally begun to unravel—thanks to a chance discovery by a marine scientist and the unwavering determination of a mother who refused to give up hope.

A Day Like Any Other — Until It Wasn’t

Thomas Peton, 42, was a respected carpenter known for his reliability and quiet strength. His son Jake, 17, was weeks away from starting college, with dreams of studying marine biology. That morning, Lisa Peton watched from the kitchen window as her husband and son loaded their battered pickup with tackle boxes and coolers, sunlight glinting off their rods. “It was so ordinary,” she later recalled. “I had no idea it would be the last time I saw them.”

The forecast was perfect: calm seas, clear skies, and gentle winds. The Petons planned to fish their usual spots near the Sanctuary Banks, a familiar area where the cold Labrador Current meets the Gulf Stream. By 6:00 p.m., when they hadn’t returned, Lisa’s concern turned to panic. She called the Coast Guard immediately, knowing Tom’s habits—he was cautious, methodical, and never took unnecessary risks.

The Search That Consumed a Town

Within hours, the Coast Guard launched a massive search and rescue operation. Captain Sander Brennan, who led the effort, recalls, “We threw everything we had at it—boats, helicopters, local volunteers. Tom was one of our own.” The search grid covered more than 300 square nautical miles, extending far beyond the Petons’ usual fishing grounds.

For 72 hours, the community scoured the Atlantic. Planes and helicopters swept the water, while fishing boats combed the currents. But as each day ended, hope faded. There was no debris, no oil slick, no signal from the boat’s emergency beacon. The Second Chance, Tom, and Jake had simply disappeared.

Detective Ray Kowalski of the Maine State Police took over when the Coast Guard suspended its search. He left no stone unturned, interviewing marina staff, local fishermen, and the owner of the bait shop where Tom and Jake bought supplies that morning. He found no evidence of foul play, no signs of financial or personal trouble, and no reason for either man to want to disappear.

A Family’s Long Vigil

For Lisa Peton, the weeks after her family vanished became a blur of sleepless nights, official meetings, and media interviews. She threw herself into the search, organizing volunteer efforts, hiring private investigators, and even consulting psychics. “I couldn’t let it go,” she said. “Not when there was still a chance they were out there.”

As months turned into years, the pain of uncertainty became a constant companion. Lisa kept Tom’s work clothes in the closet and Jake’s college acceptance letter pinned to his bedroom wall. She refused to declare them dead, despite mounting financial and legal pressures. She became an advocate for families of the missing, lobbying for changes in search protocols and maritime safety.

The annual memorial services at Crescent Harbor’s church became bittersweet rituals—occasions for the community to rally around Lisa, but also reminders of the empty chairs at her dining table.

The Breakthrough — A White Shape on a Remote Island

For twelve years, the official investigation remained open but stagnant. Then, in March 2023, a breakthrough came from an unexpected source. Dr. Kevin Fairmont, a marine biologist with NOAA, was using high-resolution satellite imagery to study erosion on uncharted North Atlantic islands. On a rocky outcropping 180 miles northeast of Crescent Harbor, he spotted something odd: a white, boat-shaped object partially buried in sand and debris.

Intrigued, Dr. Fairmont enhanced the images and cross-referenced them with historical data. The object had been present for at least a decade. He reported his findings to the Coast Guard, who quickly ran the coordinates through their database of missing vessels. The name that popped up: Second Chance.

Captain Brennan, now a senior officer, recognized the Peton case instantly. “I never forgot that family,” she said. Within days, a reconnaissance helicopter confirmed the presence of a weathered Boston Whaler on the island’s beach—intact, but battered by years of sun and storms. Most strikingly, there were signs of human activity: cleared ground, stacked rocks, and the remains of a makeshift shelter.

The Recovery Mission

On March 6, 2023, a Coast Guard vessel arrived at the island with forensic investigators, marine archaeologists, and Dr. Fairmont. The island itself was so remote and treacherous that it had evaded detection for years. The Second Chance was found well above the high tide line, as if deliberately beached. The hull identification number matched the missing Peton boat.

Around the vessel, investigators found evidence of sustained human habitation: a shelter built from driftwood and boat parts, fire pits, tool marks on trees, and even a small garden plot. Inside the boat, much had been preserved in waterproof containers—fishing gear, family photos, and, most crucially, Jake’s journal.

The Journal: A Chronicle of Survival

Jake’s journal, protected in a tackle box, provided the answers Lisa had sought for twelve years. His entries began the day after their disappearance: a sudden engine failure, followed by days adrift in unfamiliar currents. Their radio was dead, leaving them unable to call for help. After three days, they spotted the island and managed to beach the boat.

The journal chronicled their daily struggles: rationing supplies, collecting rainwater, fishing, and signaling for rescue. Tom’s mechanical skills and Jake’s resolve kept them alive. The entries grew more poignant as Tom’s health declined—persistent cough, fatigue, and, eventually, an illness that proved fatal.

Tom died in March 2013, nearly two years after their arrival. Jake’s final entries were heartbreakingly brief: “Dad passed peacefully this morning. I buried him on the hill overlooking camp. I don’t know how long I can survive alone, but I’ll keep trying. I love you, Mom.”

The Final Clues and Lingering Mystery

Investigators found Tom’s grave exactly where Jake described, marked with a cross of driftwood. But Jake’s fate remains a mystery. His journal continued for months after Tom’s death, describing efforts to signal passing ships and maintain hope. The last entry was dated July 4, 2014: “Jay Peton survived until 2014. Tell mom I tried to come home.” A carved arrow pointed toward the sea.

Despite extensive searches, no trace of Jake was ever found. Experts believe he may have tried to leave the island, either by raft or in hopes of reaching a passing vessel, but the treacherous currents and open ocean offered little chance of survival.

Aftermath: Grief, Closure, and Legacy

The discovery of the Second Chance and the journal brought a bittersweet closure to Lisa and the Crescent Harbor community. Tom’s remains were returned for burial, and a memorial stone for Jake was placed beside his father’s. Lisa restored the boat and donated it to the local maritime museum, where it stands as a testament to resilience and hope.

Lisa established a scholarship fund in Tom and Jake’s names for students pursuing marine sciences and safety. She became a national advocate for missing persons and maritime safety, sharing her family’s story at conferences and support groups.

The island where Tom and Jake survived was officially named Peton Island, marked on all navigation charts as both a warning and a memorial.

A Story of Endurance

The Petons’ ordeal is now studied as a case of extraordinary survival. Experts marvel at Tom’s resourcefulness and Jake’s maturity under unimaginable stress. Their journal reveals not despair, but determination—a father and son who never gave up hope, and a wife and mother who refused to stop searching.

Twelve years after Tom and Jake set out for a day of fishing, their story stands as a testament to the power of love, persistence, and the human spirit’s refusal to surrender. Each June 15th, Lisa returns to Crescent Harbor—not to mourn, but to celebrate what was found: a story of survival, hope, and the enduring strength of family.