Coast Guard Suspends Search For Missing Salem Sailor

SALEM, MA — The U.S. Coast Guard said on Tuesday it is suspending the search for a sailor who left in a 28-foot boat out of Salem last month and has not been seen or heard from for nearly two weeks.

The U.S. Coast Guard said 22-year-old Matthew Dennis left Salem in the 28-foot fiberglass sailboat on Sept. 22 with a stated destination of Florida. He was last heard from off the coast of Long Island, New York on Sept. 29.

The USGC had sought public information on Dennis' whereabouts in an active search on Friday but said it suspended that search as of Tuesday afternoon.

"With no further information or sightings and negative response to Urgent Marine Information Broadcasts, the First District has suspended the search for Matthew Dennis pending further developments," the U.S. Coast Guard Northeast said on Tuesday.

Those with any information on Dennis are still asked to contact the USGC at 617-223-8555.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)