Lonnie James Johnson of Chesapeake Beach
12/4/2025: The Maryland Natural Resources Police has ended the search for Lonnie James Johnson, 65, of Chesapeake Beach after NRP personnel located Johnson deceased on Thursday afternoon in the waters of Dorchester County near Taylors Island.
Officers responded to the northwest shoreline of Taylors Island, south of the mouth of the Little Choptank River at approximately 12:30 p.m. on December 4 when NRP aviators spotted the body while conducting aerial searches aboard the department’s helicopter, Natural 1.
Johnson’s 23-foot center console vessel was found unmanned on November 14 in the area of Taylors Island in Dorchester County after he left Chesapeake Beach to go fishing on the afternoon of November 13.
Search efforts lasted 21 days and were aided by Maryland State Police, United States Coast Guard, Civil Air Patrol, Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Charles County Dive Rescue, Calvert County Rescue Dive Team, Baltimore County Police Department, Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department, Saint Leonard Volunteer Fire Department, and countless other allied agencies, volunteers, and good Samaritans
The Maryland Natural Resources Police is searching along with partner agencies for a missing boater in the Chesapeake Bay, identified as Lonnie James Johnson, 65, of Chesapeake Beach.
Officers were dispatched Friday morning for a report of an overdue boater last known to be operating a white 23’ center console vessel out of Chesapeake Beach on Thursday, November 13.
The unoccupied vessel was found this morning, November 14th, 2025, by the reporting party in the area of Taylor’s Island in Dorchester County after tracking the man’s cell phone location.
Maryland State Police Aviation, United States Coast Guard, Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department, and Saint Leonard Volunteer Fire Department are assisting in the search, utilizing dive and aviation resources.
Anyone who may have seen related boating activity or has information regarding known locations of the missing boater since his departure from Chesapeake Beach should contact the Maryland Natural Resources Police at 410-260-8888.
Photo: Ofc. Jeremy Elmore flies a drone from James Island to assist in the search
