Crews Continue Search For Missing Tomales Bay Oyster Co. Owner

MARIN COUNTY, CA – The search for a missing boater whose unmanned motorboat was found in Tomales Bay Tuesday evening continued Wednesday, according to officials from the Marin County Sheriff's Office.

The missing boater has been identified as Charles "Tod" Friend, 70, owner of the Tomales Bay Oyster Company. The Oakland resident is "well known and loved by many" in West Marin, officials said.

Investigators believe Friend fell off the boat, according to the sheriff's office. Friend is listed on the Tomales Bay Oyster Co. website and in government documents as the company's owner.

Friend was reported missing at about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, after fire officials received an emergency call from an employee at the Hog Island Oyster Company in Marshall.

The caller said their boat was near the motorboat that was being operated by the missing man. Operators on the Hog Island Oyster Company boat said they looked back and saw the Tomales Bay Oyster Company boat going in circles.

Crews recovered the missing man's motorboat. Using rescue watercrafts and helicopters, personnel from the Marin County Fire Department, Southern Marin Fire, Marin County Sheriff's Office, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, U.S. National Park Service and U.S. Coast Guard supported the search for the missing man.

The search Wednesday includes the Marin County Sheriff's Office dive team, as well as the search and rescue team, National Park Service and U.S. Coast Guard.

This is a developing story. Please refresh this page for the latest information.

Previous:

Crews Search For Missing Boater In Tomales Bay

Image credit Marin County Sheriff's Office

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.