Local News
Bodies of Missing 8-Year-Old RaShad Jackson and 26-year-old Stephon Gardner Recovered from Midfield Rock Quarry
BIRMINGHAM, AL – The bodies of two family members who went missing while fishing at a rock quarry in Midfield on Saturday have been recovered, officials confirmed Sunday.
Midfield Mayor Gary Richardson identified the victims as 8-year-old Rashad Jackson and his 26-year-old cousin, Stephon Gardner, both residents of Midfield. The child’s body was recovered first, followed shortly by the discovery of Gardner’s remains.
Specialized dive teams from the Hoover Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office resumed search efforts around 8:00 a.m. Sunday.
Their operations had been paused the night before due to darkness, though sonar-equipped boats continued scanning the water throughout the night.
At approximately 2:30 a.m., sonar detected an object at a depth of 82 feet, prompting divers to concentrate their efforts in that area.
Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) also returned to assist at approximately 8:30 a.m. as recovery operations continued at the private quarry site, located along 1550 Hartman Industrial Boulevard near the Holcim Birmingham Slag Plant.
The emergency response began Saturday at 5:04 p.m. after a 911 call reported a person had fallen into the water near Bessemer Avenue and Myrtle Avenue.
The address was later updated to the Midfield industrial site, a location known for unauthorized recreational use despite being private property.
BFRS Battalion Chief Clay Hendon said first responders learned that Rashad had fallen into the quarry while fishing. Gardner, his adult cousin, jumped in after him in an attempt to rescue the boy. Tragically, neither of them resurfaced.
“There were witnesses at the scene, but all of them left before law enforcement arrived,” Hendon said. He added that some witnesses reportedly entered the water to try to help but were unsuccessful.
The area where the incident occurred features a steep drop of approximately 10 feet from the ledge to the water, with depths reaching up to 30 feet in some sections.
Hendon explained that while surface visibility in the quarry water is relatively clear, it becomes significantly darker and more difficult to navigate below the surface.
By 7:15 p.m. Sunday, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office had deployed both dive teams and drones to assist in the ongoing efforts.
Authorities acknowledged early on that the operation had transitioned from a rescue to a recovery mission due to the amount of time the victims had been submerged.
Numerous family members and friends remained at the scene throughout the day, many visibly distraught as divers worked to bring closure to the tragic incident.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the drownings remains ongoing.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the city’s historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vessel’s emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucester’s historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucester—the nation’s oldest working fishing port—activated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. “She put her heart and soul into this opportunity,” family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucester’s close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vessel’s owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. “I hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,” she said. “This is heartbreaking.”
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucester’s deep fishing heritage. “Gloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,” Tarr said. “It appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.”
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was “heartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,” adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victims’ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: “The salt has been in our blood for generations… A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.”
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series Nor’Easter Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New England’s commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victims’ families and Gloucester’s fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.