It started as a typical Friday in South Florida. July 24, 2015. Hot, humid, and the kind of day where the water looks like glass before the afternoon squalls roll in. Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen, both 14, were doing what they loved most. They were fishing.
They bought $110 worth of gas at the Jib Yacht Club and Marina. They were seen at 11:25 AM. Austin sent a quick text to his parents to check in. Then, they headed out through the Jupiter Inlet on a 19-foot SeaCraft. They didn’t come back.
The Storm and the Snapchat
Most people focus on the boat, but the digital trail is what haunts the memory of this case. Around 1:15 PM, Austin’s phone disconnected from the internet. Before that happened, there were Snapchats. One showed the boys with their rods, a simple caption reading "Peace Out Jup."
To their friends, that meant they were heading for the Bahamas. That’s a 50-mile trek across the Gulf Stream in a single-engine boat with no radio and no GPS.
Then came the message that still gives people chills. A video of a fast-moving, dark storm wall hitting the boat. The caption? "We're f-cked."
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By 5:00 PM, the parents knew something was wrong. The Coast Guard launched a massive search, eventually covering 50,000 nautical miles. They found the boat two days later, capsized near Ponce Inlet, about 67 miles from where the boys started. But here's the kicker: the boat was found, then it was lost again. It drifted away before it could be recovered.
A Discovery in Bermuda
Fast forward to March 2016. A Norwegian transport ship spotted a 19-foot boat floating 100 miles off the coast of Bermuda. It was the SeaCraft.
When the boat was hauled up, investigators found Austin’s iPhone. They also found fishing gear. But there was a weird detail that fueled years of legal battles. The battery switch and the ignition key were in the "off" position.
Guy Rubin, the attorney for Perry Cohen’s family, argued that the switch was disabled intentionally. The theory was that you don’t just turn off the battery and the key in the middle of a life-threatening storm unless someone—or something—intervened. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) looked into it, but eventually, they couldn't find enough evidence of foul play.
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The iPhone became the center of a bitter rift between the two families. Perry’s mom, Pamela Cohen, wanted the phone in the hands of the best federal forensic experts. Austin’s father, Blu Stephanos, wanted the phone back to try and recover personal memories. It eventually went to Apple, but the saltwater had done its work. The data was gone.
The Fallout and the Legacy
Honestly, the tragedy didn't end with the disappearance. It shifted into a courtroom. The Cohens eventually filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Austin’s family. They claimed negligence—that the boat wasn't seaworthy for the open ocean and that Perry wasn't supposed to be offshore without an adult.
Prosecutors did find that there was an "egregious lapse in judgment" by the adults involved, but no criminal charges were ever filed. The case was basically closed.
You've likely heard of the AustinBlu Foundation or the Perry J. Cohen Foundation. Out of the grief, both families pushed for real change. They helped pass the "Beacon Bill" in Florida, which offers discounts on boat registration for owners who buy an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). It’s a small piece of tech that could have changed everything that day in 2015.
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What Most People Get Wrong
There is a common misconception that the boys were inexperienced. They weren't. They were "raised on the water." But experience can sometimes lead to overconfidence. Taking a 19-footer into the Gulf Stream during a summer storm is a gamble that even seasoned captains lose.
Another theory often floated is that they were kidnapped or made it to the Bahamas. There is zero evidence for this. The "We're f-cked" Snapchat and the capsized boat found in the path of the Gulf Stream point to a tragic, weather-related accident.
Actionable Safety Steps for Boaters
If you're heading out on the water, don't rely on a cell phone. Saltwater and electronics are enemies. Here is what you actually need:
- Install a VHF Radio: It works when cell towers don't.
- Buy an EPIRB or PLB: These beacons signal search and rescue via satellite.
- File a Float Plan: Tell someone exactly where you are going and when you'll be back.
- Check the Radar: "Typical weather" in Florida can turn deadly in fifteen minutes.
The "Jupiter Lost Boys" remains one of the most heart-wrenching stories in Florida maritime history. It serves as a permanent reminder that the ocean, while beautiful, is indifferent to how well you know its waters.
If you are interested in supporting maritime safety, you can look into the work of the AustinBlu Foundation or the Perry J. Cohen Foundation to see how they provide safety equipment to young boaters.