Miami-Dade

Search for Missing Boater in Biscayne Bay After Damaged Vessel Found

Family members said the man missing is the owner of a performance boat building company in Miami

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A massive search continued Wednesday for a boater who went missing late Tuesday night in Biscayne Bay.

U.S. Coast Guard officials said 36-year-old Reynier Moreno was last seen around 7 p.m. Tuesday near Pelican Harbor Marina.

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Family members said Moreno is the owner of Hellkats Power Boats, a performance boat building company in Miami.

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Jeanet Pedrero, Moreno's wife, said he had been out alone, testing a 32-foot boat that someone had purchased, but he never returned. The boat was later found damaged and with no one on board, Pedrero said.

Pedrero released photos and video of the damaged boat, after it was brought to Pelican Harbor Marina.

Reynier Moreno, owner of Hellkats Power Boats, went missing while driving this damaged boat, his wife said.
Jeanet Pedrero
Reynier Moreno, owner of Hellkats Power Boats, went missing while driving this damaged boat, his wife said.

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said they were searching the area near the Julia Tuttle Causeway.

Friends and family members had also joined in the search for Moreno on Wednesday.

Reynier Moreno, who has been missing since Tuesday night, was seen taking his boat out for a test run in Biscayne Bay. NBC 6's Ryan Nelson reports

Julio Lavrada, who works for Moreno, said he's an experienced boater and builder.

"That for him is a passion, because you can like boat but you know, you put the time, what he puts into his boats, I don't know, I'm in shock right now, I don’t know what’s going on," Lavrada said.

No other information was immediately available.

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