21-058 ***UPDATE – Missing Boater Located Deceased*** Detectives Investigate Missing Boater in Madeira Beach
Missing Boater
Update as of 8:16 a.m. on Saturday, May 15, 2021
PINELLAS COUNTY – Deputies assigned to the Marine Unit have located the body of 33-year-old Dwight Haggins.
Detectives say his Next of Kin has been notified and he has been removed from NCIC/FCIC as a missing adult. The Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.
The investigation continues.
***END OF UPDATE***
Original news release
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Robbery/Homicide Unit
Patrol Operations Bureau
-Dive Team
-Marine Unit
United States Coast Guard
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
Dwight Haggins (Missing)
DOB: 6/26/1987
Kapone Fitzgerald (Passenger – Uninjured)
DOB: 12/23/2014
Nicholas Dunski (Boater – Uninjured)
DOB: 6/14/1989
Erik Echols (Passenger – Uninjured)
DOB: 1/19/1990
PINELLAS COUNTY – Detectives assigned to the Robbery/Homicide Unit are working with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, FWC, and the United States Coast Guard to locate a missing boater in Madeira Beach.
At approximately 11:10 p.m. on Friday, May 14, 2021, deputies responded to Madeira Beach Fundamental Elementary School located at 591 Tom Stuart Causeway. The caller reported a person calling for help in the water behind the school and notified law enforcement.
According to investigators, 31-year-old Nicholas Dunski launched his dingy from the Madeira Beach McDonalds located at 650 150th Avenue with 33-year-old Dwight Haggins, Dwight’s 6-year-old son Kapone Fitzergald, and friend 31-year-old Erik Echols. They travelled southbound under the Tom Stuart Causeway and were going to Dunski’s boat anchored offshore.
Detectives say the dingy began to take on water and sank behind Madeira Beach Fundamental. Haggins, who was not wearing a Personal Flotation Device, was unable to swim back to shore. Echols, Dunksi, and Fitzgerald swam to shore and were uninjured.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team and Marine Unit continue to search for Haggins with the assistance of the United States Coast Guard.
Haggins has been entered into NCIC/FCIC as a missing adult and Fitzgerald was released to a family member.
The search continues.
