February 20, 2026 — A woman who died in the sinking of the “Lily Jean” was remembered as “a spirited young woman” in her obituary.
Jada Mairin Samitt, 22, was a federal fisheries observer and one of seven crew members aboard the Lily Jean, a 72-foot fishing boat that sank off the coast of Gloucester on Jan. 30. There were no survivors.
February 19, 2026 — A coalition of authorities is deploying technology to try to locate the wreck of a fishing boat that sank last month off Massachusetts, killing all seven aboard. But winter weather and sea conditions have thus far slowed their efforts.
The 72-foot (22-meter) vessel Lily Jean was returning to port early Jan. 30 to repair fishing gear when it sank in frigid Atlantic waters off the historic fishing port of Gloucester. Multiple agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Massachusetts Environmental Police, are cooperating to try to find the wreck of the ship and potentially recover the bodies of the deceased, officials said Wednesday.
The Lily Jean sank in waters that were more than 300 feet deep and very inhospitable in winter. Environmental police have deployed side-scan sonar to try to gather data and detect anomalies on the ocean floor, officials said. They said they also hope to be able to send a remotely operated vehicle to the site to gather photos and video, but seas have thus far made that challenging.
February 19, 2026 — It’s been nearly three weeks since a Gloucester fishing boat sank off the coast of Cape Ann, killing all seven crew members. Federal and state investigators have searched for the 72-foot vessel known as the Lily Jean, but it has not yet been found.
Challenges such as harsh weather conditions have made finding the Lily Jean difficult. Officials are undecided about whether to try to recover the boat and the bodies of the six crew members who remain missing, they said during a Wednesday press conference.
The officials are hopeful but not confident they will be able to locate the Lily Jean, though they said ample resources are being used in the search. They hope that finding the boat will provide answers for the crew members’ families and help make fishing a safer profession.
“This was an experienced captain who was a good personal friend of mine and many of us,” Gloucester State Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-First Essex and Middlesex, said of Gus Sanfilippo, captain of the Lily Jean.
February 18, 2026 — State and federal agencies are still searching for details to explain what caused a commercial fishing vessel to sink off the coast of Gloucester last month, killing all seven people who were on board.
The 72-foot commercial fishing vessel, named Lily Jean, sank on Jan. 30 without sending any distress or mayday call.
Coast Guard crews spent days searching for survivors on dangerously high seas before calling off the search and rescue mission.
At a Wednesday press conference, officials stressed the need for patience as they work toward uncovering meaningful information. They said state and federal partners are collaborating on this phase of the investigation, which includes searching for the sunken ship. That effort is focused on an area about 20 minutes off shore, with waters up to 400 feet deep. Crews are hoping the search helps them understand what happened to the ship.
February 17, 2025 — A father and son who were killed when a fishing boat sank off the coast of Gloucester late last month are being remembered for their love of the ocean.
Gloucester residents Paul Beal Sr., 70, and Paul Beal Jr., 34, were among the seven crew members of the Lily Jean who died when it sank while returning from a fishing trip on Jan. 30.
Remembering Paul Beal Sr.
Paul Austin Beal Sr. was born in Rockport to the late Lloyd and Marilyn Beal on Oct. 11, 1955, according to his obituary. He grew up in Rockport with his two brothers and graduated from Rockport High School in 1974.
“After graduation, Paul followed his heart to the Ocean. It was a way of life for the Beal Family, dating back to ancestors in Beals Island, Maine,” his obituary reads.
Remembering Paul Beal Jr.
Paul Austin “PJ” Beal Jr., was born in Gloucester on June 22, 1991, to his mother, Denee, and father, Paul Austin Beal Sr., according to his obituary. He was raised in Gloucester and attended Gloucester Public Schools.
“As a child growing up, PJ instantly took a love to the ocean,” his obituary reads.
February 17, 2026 — Loved ones of a 33-year-old crew member aboard The Lily Jean, a Gloucester fishing vessel that sunk at the end of January, remember him as a loving and hard-working man who would “give the shirt off his back” to anyone who needed it.
John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Peabody, died on Jan. 30. He was one of seven people aboard the fishing boat when it went down off the coast of Cape Ann. The Coast Guard searched into the night for the missing crew members, discovering just one body, a debris field and the boat’s empty life raft.
February 10, 2026 — Hundreds of mourners will fill St. Ann’s Catholic Church on Tuesday morning for the funeral of Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo, the captain of the Lily Jean, a fishing vessel that sank off the coast of Cape Ann on Jan. 30.
The entire crew, including Sanfilippo, was killed. Only Sanfilippo’s body has been recovered from the boat.
Loved ones began lining up late Monday afternoon, bundled up against the raw and windy sea air in Gloucester, to attend Sanfilippo’s wake.
“The sadness in there is just unbelievable — he’s got a young son, a young daughter, they are crushed,” said friend Vito Giacalone.
February 9, 2026 — Rick Beal has always been drawn to the sea, but the Captain of the Santo Pio is now faced with a feeling he’s never had in his 74 years.
“I’m pretty doggone shook up,” Rick said. “This is the first time in my life I have ever really thought about quitting.”
Rick’s brother Paul Beal Sr and Paul’s son Paul Beal Jr, who was known as P.J., were two of the seven people lost at sea when the Lily Jean went down as it was steaming home with a load of fish. The ship sank just 22 miles from home.
“You don’t ever think that you’re not going to see him again,” Rick said.
He spoke with us along side his daughter, Angela Scarpa, who grew emotional as she spoke about her family.
“My uncle had this laugh,” Angela said. “It was so infectious. He had a great smile. PJ was a lot like his dad.”
She added, “They were both doing what they love.”
“The adventure, the fishing, it is a way of life,” Rick said.
February 6, 2026 — The council that oversees New England’s fishing industry on Friday recognized the loss of seven people who were aboard a fishing vessel when it sank off the coast of Cape Ann on Jan. 30.
“The New England Fishery Management Council extends our sincere condolences to the families, loved ones, and fishing communities affected by the tragic sinking of the F/V Lily Jean” the council said in a statement.
Seven people perished in the tragedy — the captain, Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo, Paul Beal Sr., Paul Beal Jr., John Rousanidis, Freeman Short, Sean Therrien, and Jada Samitt, a NOAA fisheries observer who was aboard the vessel.
February 6, 2026 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council extends our sincere condolences to the families, loved ones, and fishing communities affected by the tragic sinking of the F/V Lily Jean on Friday, January 30, 2026.