Alaska horror: Human remains dating 200 years back found by tourists at beach house

Almost a year after the United States Coast Guard suspended the search for a family of four missing after the boat they were on capsized in waters off south-central Alaska, a search turned up human remains at the bottom of the bay. In August 2024, the US Coast Guard searched for the missing boaters but suspended it without any sightings.

Tourists at a beach property in South Carolina discovered they found human remains at a forgotten burial site dating back 200 years, authorities told ABC News. The incident happened last Friday when the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina received a call regarding human remains being discovered on Edisto Island, according to a statement from Colleton County Sheriff’s Office.

Human remains dating 200 years back found

The discovery followed an offer of assistance in April from three private Alaska companies, including one specializing in underwater sonar searches, to help locate a missing Texas family, according to a statement from the Alaska Department of Public Safety.

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Earlier this month, the companies located the missing boat and human remains at a depth of 180 feet in Kachemak Bay near Homer, the department reported. State divers subsequently recovered three sets of remains from the submerged vessel during dives conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The remains were taken to the State Medical Examiner's Office to perform autopsies and identify them, according to the public safety department. It did not say how long it would take to identify the remains would take, as per CBS News.

David and Mary Maynard of Troy, along with their two sons—11-year-old Colton and 8-year-old Brantley—were reported missing after a 28-foot aluminum boat carrying eight people capsized about 16 miles west of Homer, according to the US Coast Guard.

"In early May, the group was able to locate the vessel in 180 feet of water and, utilizing a remotely operated vehicle, they were able to positively identify it as the missing boat with potential human remains onboard," the Alaska State Troopers reported.

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When did the search begin?

The search for the missing family began in August after reports emerged that a 28-foot aluminum boat carrying eight people capsized, according to the US Coast Guard. The Coast Guard alerted nearby vessels, and one was able to rescue four people.

Efforts to locate the remaining people involved a thorough sweep of Kachemak Bay. Alaska search and rescue teams also deployed sonar equipment in hopes of locating the family, the state's Department of Public Safety reported. Despite their efforts, the search was suspended by the following evening after no further discoveries were made.

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At the time, Christi Wells spoke on behalf of Mary Maynard’s parents, telling the Anchorage Daily News that the family loved spending time with friends and relatives and enjoyed traveling. Mary Maynard worked as a traveling nurse, while her husband, David, stayed home with the children and ran a lawn care business.

Cassandra Martin, a family friend from Texas, expressed her heartbreak to CBS affiliate KWTX. "It's hard to believe this is real," she said. "She, her husband, and their boys were all cherished members of our community."

A GoFundMe campaign launched to support the family has raised over $21,000.

“The Maynards left a lasting impact on many,” the fundraiser reads. “From their laughter and love to the deep sense of community they brought, their absence will leave an indescribable void.”