Ship To Leave Without Missing Sailor

[Breeze54]

Ship To Leave Without Missing Sailor
Family Talks About Willis' Disappearance

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/11316984/detail.html

UPDATED: 12:25 pm EDT March 21, 2007



BOSTON --

A Navy destroyer will leave Boston on Wednesday, with or without a sailor
who has been missing since Friday night.

NewsCenter 5's Jack Harper reported that Petty Officer Dustin Willis, 26,
was last seen outside the Black Rose restaurant in Boston. He was out with
friends on Friday night before becoming separated from the group.

"This is not something he decided to do. He did not just drop his cell phone
and walk off in a blizzard," said Willis' girlfriend, Shawna Watkins.

Willis' ship, the USS Donald Cook, a destroyer, was making final preparations
to leave Wednesday.

"We have no idea, and the police are not ruling anything out at this point.
I mean, they are turning over every stone possible, and that is why the news
conference was held (Tuesday) so that we could get as much public attention
to this matter and hopefully generate some leads," said Navy Lt. Paul Brawley.

Divers started searching the waters near Long Wharf -- yards from where the
sailor's cell phone was found on a sidewalk.

"This ship has a crew of 300 people, and it is really a family. Everyone knows
one another. They are upset about this, but they are also remaining focused on
their job and making sure that the ship operates and needs to do what it needs
to do," Brawley said.

When Willis walked out of the bar with his friends Friday night, they lost sight of him.

"When his friends came around the corner, they didn't see Mr. Willis. They assumed
that he might have gone into one of the nightclubs. They began looking into the nightclubs
to see if they could see him. They didn't see him. One of his crewmembers called his cell
phone, left a message that they were heading back to the ship and to contact the ship,"
Boston Police Department Detective Sgt. Kevin Finn said.

Officials said that Willis' cell phone was found at about 1 a.m. on Long Warf, but detectives
are not sure if Willis was there.

"There was no indication of any altercations between him and the individuals he was out with
or any individuals he may have encountered on the street," Finn said.

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It's either foul play, desertion or suicide.... Hope his family hears something soon.

[AllieB]

1. My thoughts are with his family

this is very sad. :-(

[Breeze54]

2. Breaking: Divers Found A Body in Boston Harbor,

near where the missing sailors' cellphone was found.

Unconfirmed, as of right now....

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Body Found In Search Area Of Missing Sailor
26-Year-Old Last Seen Friday

UPDATED: 1:14 pm EDT March 21, 2007

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/11316984/detail.html

BOSTON --

Officials found a body Wednesday in the Boston Harbor where divers were searching
for a missing sailor who was last seen Friday night.

Divers were searching the waters near Long Wharf -- yards from where Petty Officer
Dustin Willis' cell phone was found on a sidewalk.

Willis, 26, was last seen outside the Black Rose restaurant in Boston. He was out
with friends on Friday night before becoming separated from the group.

more...........

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That's really sad. He must've been disoriented in the blizzard.