UPDATE: Fishermen Dead, Missing Identified After Boat Sinks in Potomac

UPDATED 12:05 p.m. Monday ST. MARY'S COUNTY, MD — Authorities have released the names of the four fishermen on a boat that sank Saturday night in the Potomac River. The mishap killed two men, one man was rescued and the search is ongoing for a fourth man, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources police.

The boat was carrying four men who were participating in a fishing tournament. One of the four fishermen — Jason Downing, 39, of Mechanicsville — was found alive on the hull of the capsized boat and taken to St. Mary's Hospital for treatment. Natural Resources Police say boat owner Gregory Moore, 55, of Mechanicsville, and William Edelen Jr., 48, of White Plains, were found dead.

Police said Sunday that Roger Grissom, 52, of Hughesville, was still missing.

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The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for the missing boat Sunday night. Downing was found about 6:30 a.m. Sunday on top of the overturned hull of the vessel. Shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday, a Coast Guard boat crew and good Samaritans found the bodies of the two dead boaters.

“The Coast Guard extends its deepest sympathies to the friends and families who lost loved ones from this tragedy,” said Cmdr. Michael Batchelder, deputy commander, Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capital Region. “The decision to suspend a search effort is always one of the most difficult.”

Involved in the search was a 45-foot boat and crew from Coast Guard Station St. Inigoes, Maryland, and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C. Rescuers searched about 279 square nautical miles.

Police said rough seas and high winds were hampering the search effort. The Maryland Saltwater Sportfisherman's Association canceled the final day of its tournament.

Maryland was under a wind advisory Sunday which continues until 5 p.m. Monday, and the Chesapeake Bay was under a gale warning this weekend, which also continues on Monday.

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