Crime & Safety
Body Found Could Be Missing Swimmer
Officials are not sure if the body recovered Wednesday in the Gulf of Mexico is that of James Poindexter, who went missing while swimming on Labor Day.
Clearwater Fire and Rescue officials recovered a man's body in the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday that could that of a swimmer missing since Labor Day.
Someone aboard a 31-foot catamaran saw the body floating about four miles off shore around 1:43 p.m., Rob Shaw, public safety spokesman, said in a release. A fire boat went to retrieve the body and bring it back to shore, Shaw said.
After searching much of Monday and for nearly six hours Tuesday in rough currents, the search to find James Poindexter, who went missing swimming near Sand Key, was called off.
Poindexter, 27, of Spring Hill, was last seen swimming near the Clearwater Sailing Center around 2:15 p.m. Monday. The search for him was called off around 3:15 p.m. Tuesday.
It is unknown at this time if the body recovered is that of Poindexter, Shaw said. The Medical Examiner's Office is making that determination.
Related coverage:
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
