Susannah Sudborough | [email protected]

Family and friends of the seven people who were aboard a fishing boat that sank off the coast of Gloucester on Friday are in mourning after the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for the vessel Saturday morning.

What happened

Coast Guard crews began searching for a 72-foot fishing boat called the “Lily Jean” Friday morning after receiving an emergency position-indicating radio beacon, the Coast Guard said in a Saturday morning press release. The beacon indicated that the Lily Jean was 25 miles off the coast of Cape Ann.
By Friday evening, the Coast Guard had recovered the body of one of the people aboard the vessel, it said. The bodies of the other six people aboard have not been recovered.
During the search, air and surface crews found a debris field near the location reported by the beacon, the Coast Guard said. Crews also found the boat’s life raft, which had been deployed, but was unoccupied.
The Coast Guard searched nearly 1,050 square miles over the course of a day, it said. After consulting with search and rescue coordinators and on-scene commanders, the Coast Guard determined that “all reasonable search efforts for the missing crew members had been exhausted.”
“The decision to suspend the search was incredibly difficult,” Coast Guard Sector Boston Capt. Jamie Frederick said in the release. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family members and friends of the lost crew of the Lily Jean, and with the entire Gloucester community during this heartbreaking time.”
The vessel was returning to Gloucester after completing a fishing trip when it sank, officials said. It is unclear what caused the fatal incident, but the Coast Guard Northeast District is investigating.

The people aboard the Lily Jean

Officials have not publicly identified the seven people aboard the Lily Jean, but family and friends of several of its crew members have come forward to identify them.
The family of 22-year-old Jada Samitt, a federal fisheries observer and crew member on the fishing vessel, released a statement identifying her as one of the seven people Sunday afternoon. Her family described her as a “vibrant and compassionate” Virginia native who “loved these waters.”
“Jada was on the Lily Jean that day because of her strong belief in her work, not only as an observer, but as someone who knew her important role as a crew member,” the statement reads. “She proved herself to be so on every trip, and conveyed to us how critical it was to protect the seas and fisheries. We could not be more proud of and grateful to her for it.”
Virginia native Jada Samitt, 22, was a federal fisheries observer and crew member of the Lily Jean, a fishing boat the sunk off the coast of Gloucester on Jan. 30, 2026.Courtesy Photo
Peabody resident Sean Therrien, 45, was identified as one of the people aboard the Lily Jean by his partner, Rebecca Carp, and in a GoFundMe campaign for his family. In a Friday Facebook post, Carp said she was heartbroken, and that she and Therrien had been together for 22 years.
“He was my best friend and love of my life,” she wrote.
Therrien, a Lynn native, also leaves behind his two sons, 23-year-old Justin and 17-year-old Tyler, as well as his father, brother, two sisters, and many other beloved family members and friends, according to the GoFundMe campaign.
“He was a hardworking family man whose life revolved around the people he loved most,” the campaign page reads. “ … Those who knew Sean will remember his great sense of humor, his generous heart, and the pride he took in providing for his family.”
Crew member John Paul Rousanidis, 33, was identified as one of seven people by his sister, Keri Rousanidis, in a GoFundMe campaign for his family. After spending his early years on the North Shore, Rousanidis spent the latter part of his childhood in Greece before returning to Massachusetts “to chase his dreams,” his sister wrote.
“He was very passionate about the sea,” the campaign page reads. “He was an amazing brother, son, and uncle — a hard worker who never said no to anyone he met. His kindness, determination, and generosity inspired everyone around him.”
Rousanidis leaves behind his mother, three sisters, two brothers and many other cherished relatives and friends, his sister wrote.
A father and son, Paul Beal and Paul Beal Jr., were identified as two of the people aboard the Lily Jean by Beal Sr.’s brother, Ricky Beal, WBZ-TV reported.
The vessel’s captain has been identified as Gus Sanfilippo, Boston 25 News reported. He and his crew were featured in a 2012 episode of the History Channel show “Nor’Easter Men.”

A community in mourning

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey expressed sorrow at the loss of the people aboard the Lily Jean and shared condolences for their family and friends during a press conference Saturday morning.
“For 400 years, people have been fishing out of this harbor, and over the course of 400 years, there’s been a lot of pain and heartache and loss,” she said. “ … Everyone here from this fishing community — you are beautiful and strong and resilient.”
In a statement, Gloucester Mayor Paul Lundberg called fishing “the heart and soul” of the city. Fishermen from the community risk their lives every day to provide for their families and “feed our collective family,” he said.
“This is a tragedy we have experienced before, and one we will never get used to,” the mayor said.