Joseph Hocher

Missing person's son last saw him November 12, 2003. Missing person was asleep at his residence on Staniel Cay, Exhuma, Bahamas. The next morning the missing person's plane was discovered to also be missing. A witness stated he saw the plane take off about 0600 hours on November 13, 2003. Subsequent investigation indicated the plane was recently fueled and was maintained meticulously. The missing person was an experienced pilot. The witness stated that the plane didn't seem to be in any distress. The plane was equipped with a device that would signal if the plane crashed. The missing person's family said he had no plans to travel. The family contacted both Georgetown Station Police, Exhuma, Bahamas and Fort Lauderdale, Florida police. The missing person held USA citizenship and maintained a business and residence in Ft. Lauderdale. The US Coast Guard and the Bahama Air Sea Rescue, as well as others, searched the island and the location in the ocean where the plane last registered on radar. Ft. Lauderdale PD filed a missing persons report and the Royal Bahamas police also opened an investigation.