The person at the center of this case
Joseph F Jones
Missing Person · Open
16 years waiting · since 2009
Missing Person: Joseph F Jones
Justice for Joseph F Jones — the trail went cold in 2009, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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evidence
Lead #1What caused the Bottom Basher to sink or be disabled, and why were only some crew members recovered?
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person
Lead #2What were the circumstances of the crew member whose body was recovered, and how do they relate to Joseph's disappearance?
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location
Lead #3Have all recoverable pieces of the boat been accounted for, and could additional remains be discovered in Cobscook Bay?
Joseph F Jones, a 28-year-old fisherman, disappeared on October 20, 2009, while aboard his fishing vessel the Bottom Basher near Falls Island in Cobscook Bay, Maine. The boat was headed out to drag for sea urchins when it was last seen by a passing fisherman; the body of a crew member was recovered the next day and many boat pieces were found, but Joseph's fate remains unknown. Despite recovery efforts and Coast Guard investigation, questions persist about what happened to Joseph and whether additional remains or evidence might still surface in the bay.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
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witness
Lead #4Are there other witnesses besides the passing fisherman who saw the vessel or crew that day?
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Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP56348. Missing person: Joseph F Jones.
Last known contact: 2009-10-20 in Cobscook Bay, Washington, ME. Circumstances: Joseph Jones and his crew were aboard his fishing vessel, the Bottom Basher, headed out to drag for sea urchins.
The boat and crew were last seen by a passing fisherman near Falls Island, in the Cobscook Bay. The body of a crew member was recovered the next day.
Many pieces of the boat have been recovered. Demographics: 28 years, Male, White / Caucasian.
Physical description: 5 ft 9 in, 150 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Blue. Investigating agency: United States Coast Guard | 479016 | 2009-10-20.
Timeline of Events
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2009-10-20
Bottom Basher Last Sighted
Joseph F Jones and his crew aboard the fishing vessel Bottom Basher were last seen by a passing fisherman near Falls Island in Cobscook Bay, Maine, headed out to drag for sea urchins.
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2009-10-21
Crew Member Body Recovered
The body of a crew member was recovered the day after the vessel was last seen.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:October 20, 2009
Last Updated:May 22, 2026
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Phone: 2252985400
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Case Information
Incident:October 20, 2009
Last Updated:May 22, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 2252985400
You can remain anonymous