GREEN BAY, Wis. — Two children are dead and their father still missing after they took a sailboat out near Green Bay last weekend.
On Monday, officials recovered the bodies of two children, who have now been identified as 5-year-old Charlotte M. Salnik and 3-year-old Joshua F. Salnik.
Search efforts are still continuing to locate their father, Bill J. Salnik.
The Oconto County Sheriff’s Office said on Sunday, July 14, it was notified that a 32-year-old man from the Town of Little Suamico, Wis. had not made it back to his planned destination after going out boating with his two children. No one had been able to contact with him since Saturday, July 13 around 5 p.m., officials said.
The missing vessel, a 18-foot Gulf Coast Sailboat, was located on Monday, July 15, in Green Bay waters off of Chambers Island. Oconto County Sheriff’s Office said it was notified by the Door County Sheriff’s Office about the unmanned sailboat. The bodies of the two children were recovered about one mile south of where the boat was.
Officials said they are continuing to search for Bill J. Salnik via drone searches. They said they will start K9 assisted marine searches on Thursday.
Officials said there are no plans to stop searches until further notice. The office said the incident is still under investigation and updates will be shared as information becomes available.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they deal with the loss of their loved ones,” said Sheriff Todd Skarban in a press release.