Maryland Natural Resources Police Recover Body of Missing Boater

DORCHESTER COUNTY, MD - The Maryland Natural Resources Police has concluded the search for Lonnie James Johnson. The 65-year-old resident of Chesapeake Beach was found deceased on Thursday afternoon.

NRP personnel located Johnson in the waters of Dorchester County near Taylors Island.

Officers responded to the northwest shoreline of Taylors Island at approximately 12:30 p.m. on December 4.

NRP aviators spotted the body while conducting aerial searches aboard the department's helicopter, Natural 1. The location was identified south of the mouth of the Little Choptank River.

Johnson had left Chesapeake Beach to go fishing on the afternoon of November 13. His 23-foot center console vessel was found unmanned on November 14. The boat was discovered in the area of Taylors Island in Dorchester County.

The search effort continued for 21 days. It involved assistance from the Maryland State Police, United States Coast Guard, and Civil Air Patrol. Other agencies included the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Charles County Dive Rescue, Calvert County Rescue Dive Team, and Baltimore County Police Department. Local volunteer fire departments and good samaritans also aided the operation.