Reply #32: UPDATE! BLOOD...on the boat!

[blogslut]

This from Merrill's own news reporter, Scott Daugherty, Hometown Annapolis - presented by Capital-Gazette:

Mr. Merrill, who generally didn’t wear a life jacket, had headed east toward Kent Island from his home on the Severn River and planned to return about four hours later, something he’d done countless times.

Instead, two men on jet-skis found his blue-and-white 1988 Bristol around 7 p.m. in shallow water near Breezy Point, about 25 miles south of Annapolis and 40 miles south of his home in Arnold. The sails were up and the engine was off. On board, police found his wallet and four Type IV personal flotation devices, the type tossed to people in the water.

<snip>

Andrew Carta, who found the boat adrift in 5 feet of water off Breezy Point, said he found blood on the stern of the vessel.

Col. Chaney refused to comment on the blood, or even confirm it was found, saying that it could be potential evidence. He added that there is no sign of foul play and that nothing appeared out of the ordinary on the boat.

Mr. Carta said since the vessel was seaworthy, he turned on the engine because “it was my intention to take the boat to Breezy Point or another marina.” After seeing the blood though, he decided to anchor the boat and contact the police. He then could not turn off the engine, he said.

link to story:
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2006/06_12-44/TOP
link to a picture of a 1988 Bristol:
http://www.urifoundation.org/uriboats/boatsforsale/picture.pl?boat_id=18309&return=class_search.pl%3Fboat_type%3Dsail

Stay tuned for another exciting episode of "As the Aspens Turn" :tinfoilhat: