Authorities Search For Missing Millionaire Whose Boat Washed Ashore
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a South Florida millionaire after his boat washed ashore in Fort Lauderdale and he was nowhere to be found.
Guma Aguiar's 31-foot center console boat washed ashore in the 300 block of South Atlantic Boulevard around 1:15 a.m. Wednesday, June 20th. The boat's navigation lights were still on and the engines were still running.
Aguiar's wife, Jamie, told police she thought her husband was in his home office when she got home Tuesday night but an employee of the Aguiar's said Guma went out on his boat around 7:30 p.m. That was the last time anyone saw him.
Jamie told police she is concerned for her husband's safety.
"The family called me middle of the night and I went running to A1A where the boat was," said family Rabbi Moishe Lipscyz . "We sat there the night praying praying watching the Coast Guard. It's very very hard. I love him to no end. I just want him back home safe."
While the Coast Guard searched waterways, Fort Lauderdale police scoured the beach on ATVs.
An active search continues for Aguiar with help from the Coast Guard, BSO, FWC, and Fort Lauderdale Marine Units.
They are searching about three miles offshore between Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Port Everglades.
Detectives consider Guma endangered and are investigating the circumstances behind his disappearance.
Guma Aguiar is a Brazilian-born businessman who made millions in oil and gas interests. The known philanthropist splits his time living between South Florida and Israel. He has contributed millions to Jewish and Israeli charities and in 2009, invested more than $4 million into an Israeli soccer team.
Anyone with information regarding Guma's whereabouts is urged to contact the Fort Lauderdale Police Department at 954-828-5700 or contact the nearest Coast Guard unit.
