The person at the center of this case
Mark Edmund Doughty
Missing Person · Open
24 years waiting · since 2001
Missing Person: Mark Edmund Doughty
Justice for Mark Edmund Doughty — the trail went cold in 2001, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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evidence
Lead #1Why was the only survivor the captain? What accounts exist of the collision sequence and the vessel's rapid sinking?
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witness
Lead #2Were there any other vessels in the area that witnessed the collision or subsequent events?
💡
clue
Lead #3What was the condition of the Virgo after the collision, and did it conduct any rescue operations?
Mark Edmund Doughty, a 33-year-old crew member aboard the fishing vessel Starbound, went missing on August 5, 2001, when the boat was struck by the Russian tanker Virgo approximately 130 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts. The Starbound sank within a minute of the collision; Mark was sleeping below deck at the time and was never recovered. The U.S. Coast Guard investigated the incident, but his fate remains unknown—whether he perished in the sinking or survived in the open ocean.
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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.
⏰
timeline
Lead #4What was the exact time of the collision and how long did search and rescue operations continue?
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Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP51782. Missing person: Mark Edmund Doughty.
Last known contact: 2001-08-05 in Gloucester, Essex, MA. Circumstances: Mark was part of the Starbound fishing vessel crew.
They were 130 miles off Cape Ann, MA when their vessel was struck by the Virgo, a Russian tanker. The Starbound captain was the only survivor and stated the boat sank within a minute.
Mark was sleeping below deck when the collision occurred. Demographics: 33 years, Male, White / Caucasian.
Physical description: 5 ft 9 in, 200 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Brown. Investigating agency: United States Coast Guard | 981848 | 2001-08-05.
Timeline of Events
👤
2001-08-05
unknownStarbound struck by Virgo tanker
The fishing vessel Starbound was struck by the Russian tanker Virgo approximately 130 miles off Cape Ann, MA. The Starbound sank within one minute. Mark Edmund Doughty was sleeping below deck at the time of collision.
Key Locations
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Case Information
Incident:August 5, 2001 at Invalid Date
Last Updated:June 18, 2026
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Phone: 2252985400
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Case Information
Incident:August 5, 2001 at Invalid Date
Last Updated:June 18, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 2252985400
You can remain anonymous