NEWS

Police: Missing kayaker sought in burglary

Elizabeth Murray
Free Press Staff Writer

The U.S. Coast Guard Monday night suspended the water search for Sean Hawley who was last seen paddling a kayak on Lake Champlain Saturday night. Coast Guard Lt. Scott McCann said Hawley is believed to be on land and the authorities will pursue other investigative routes should they come across new leads,

The Burlington man's inflatable kayak has been recovered, but a 14-foot skiff has gone missing.

Colchester police said Hawley, 25, is now also a "person of interest" in the burglary of a building on Stave Island as of Monday evening.

The U.S. Coast Guard along with Vermont and New York law-enforcement officials have been scouring Lake Champlain on Sunday and Monday. The Coast Guard says Hawley was last seen around 11 p.m. Saturday paddling a black, inflatable kayak in the direction of Plattsburgh, N.Y., near Colchester Point.

Colchester police describe Hawley as 6 feet 2 inches tall and 180 pounds with long, dirty-blond hair. He also might have facial hair that appears red, police said.

Hawley's kayak was found pulled up onto the shore on Stave Island, and evidence showed he was there, said Coast Guard Lt. Scott McCann of the Sector Northern New England Command Center in Portland, Maine.

McCann said a 14-foot skiff is missing from the island.

It is unknown when and for how long Hawley was on the island, McCann said.

"Hawley may be seeking shelter and supplies," Colchester police said. "He is likely wet, cold and hungry. Hawley's actions and statements have been erratic, and his state of mind is unknown."

McCann said earlier Monday that searchers are "hopeful he's still alive." Searchers do not consider the man's disappearance suspicious, but McCann said it is unlike Hawley to leave in this manner.

Cloudy, foggy weather and thunderstorms Monday paused the search for part of the afternoon, but searchers resumed around 5 p.m. before suspending their effort.

Hawley's disappearance originally was reported by a friend. The wind was blowing at 9-12 knots that night. Waves were 1-2 feet high, McCann with the Coast Guard said.

"We're trying to figure out why he chose that particular time to go kayaking because it's not prudent in those types of weather conditions or late at night to embark on a kayak voyage," McCann said.

McCann said there is no indication that drugs or alcohol played a role in the man's decision-making.

The Coast Guard has a 25-foot boat that was on scene since about 4:30 p.m. Saturday from the Coast Guard station in Burlington, McCann said. The Cape Cod, Mass., Coast Guard has also provided an ocean sentry aircraft to help with the search.

The Colchester Police Department, South Hero Fire Department and St. Albans Police Department were involved in the search. The New York State Police, Plattsburgh and Clinton County, New York, police also took part.

The Coast Guard urges those with information to call the Sector Northern New England Command Center at 207-767-0303.

PREVIOUSLY: Search underway for missing lake kayaker

Contact Elizabeth Murray at 651-4835 or emurray@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LizMurraySMC.