🚨 CONFIRMED: The U.S. Coast Guard has identified the 7 people lost at sea in the sinking of the Gloucester fishing vessel Lily Jean.
Families say hope faded as hours passed, while crews searched through darkness and freezing waters.

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All seven people who died last week when the Gloucester-based fishing vessel the Lily Jean sank off the Massachusetts coast were identified Monday by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The seven were lost at sea early Friday morning after the Coast Guard received an emergency beacon 25 miles off the coast of Cape Ann.

Lily Jean crewmembers identified

The official list of victims includes:

• Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo, captain
• Paul Beal Sr., crew
• Paul Beal Jr., crew
• John Rousanidis, crew
• Freeman Short, crew
• Sean Therrien, crew
• Jada Samitt, NOAA fisheries observer
Jada Samitt and Sean Therrien, who were on board the Lily Jean. Samitt and Therrien families
The Coast Guard searched for the Lily Jean all day Friday, but said they suspended the search on Saturday “after all reasonable search efforts for the missing crewmembers had been exhausted.” Only one body has been recovered so far, according to investigators.

The Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner identified Sanfilippo, 55, as the individual who was recovered by the Coast Guard.

“Jada was on the Lily Jean that day because of her strong belief in her work, not only as an observer, but as someone who knew her important role as a crew member. She proved herself to be so on every trip, and conveyed to us how critical it was to protect the seas and fisheries. We could not be more proud of and grateful to her for it,” Samitt’s family said in a statement Sunday.

A memorial service for all seven was held Sunday at Saint Ann Church in Gloucester.
This image provided by Robert Serbagi shows the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean in Gloucester Harbor on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024.Robert Serbagi via AP
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will also work with the Coast Guard in the investigation into what caused the vessel to sink. It’s expected to take several months.

“Based on its findings, the investigation will determine if the accident requires further review by a Marine Board of Investigation,” the Coast Guard said in a statement.

“The purpose of a Coast Guard investigation is to identify measures that can improve the safety of life and property at sea, not to assign civil or criminal blame.”

“Worst nightmare come true”

Massachusetts Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, a Republican who represents Gloucester, held a news conference at the harbormaster’s office Monday afternoon with other officials and members of the fishing industry.

“This confirmation is very difficult for all of us. And it’s painful to read these names and think about what has transpired here,” Tarr said.

Tarr said that recovering a sunken vessel is an “extraordinary undertaking” and “we would not want to create an expectation that it will ever be brought to the surface.” Tarr added that all options are being explored.

Al Cottone is the president of the Gloucester Fisheries Commission.

“This is the worst nightmare come true. It’s happened before, it’s happened again. It’s not unique to this community, but it is a tragedy that is still fresh and this community is going to take a long time to heal,” Cottone said.

Vito Giacalone, policy director of the Northeast Seafood Coalition, said the loss of the Lily Jean “shocks us all.” He said that while fishing is a dangerous occupation, the crew was not doing anything out of their normal routine.

“This is the life of firefighters, policemen, everyone that has a potential risk. That’s what fishermen are. They’re not cowboys, they’re not out there gambling with their lives. Because out of the thousands of trips that are conducted every year, this is one day that went bad for a Gloucester vessel,” Giacalone said.