Boater Discovers Body Of Missing Kayaker

The body of missing New York Police Department officer was discovered early Saturday afternoon by a boater one and half miles west of Kings Park bluff, where he is believed to have entered the water. 

Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau Deputy Insp. Harold Jantzen said Luca was not wearing a life vest when his body was discovered at about 11:30 a.m. by a recreational boater who alerted police. Police boats with members of the NYPD dive team onboard were already searching nearby.

Luca's body was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard station in Eaton’s Neck.

Jantzen said he was still unsure how the accident happened. According to police, personal items were found in the inflatable kayak Luca used and it did not appear to have capsized. Sea conditions on Friday were calm and they received no reports of wakes in that area. Jantzen said it didn't appear as of Saturday that a medical event had occurred.

“We don’t really know what happened here,” said Jantzen. "We don’t believe where the kayak was found was the most active part of the current. However we are still investigating.”

Police believe that Luca launched his boat from the Kings Park bluff boat ramp. Jantzen said he was told that Luca was able to swim.

“It is heart wrenching to think that what they were out doing something that they enjoyed and it ended up in tragedy,” said Jantzen.