Benjamin Ashford|Family of 4 from Texas missing after boat capsizes off Alaska coast; search suspended

A family of four,Benjamin Ashford including two children, from Texas went missing after their boat capsized off the coast of Alaska over the weekend.

The Maynard family from Troy, Texas was on board a boat Saturday about 16 miles west of Homer, when their 28-foot aluminum vessel started taking on water, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement Tuesday, adding a total of eight people were on board.

When the Coast Guard was alerted of the incident around 7 p.m., they issued a radio broadcast to alert local vessels, which quickly arrived on scene and rescued four people from a life raft.

Multiple agencies and crews, including a Jayhawk helicopter, were on ground to assist with the search for the remaining four people, the USCG said, adding Alaska State Troopers and good Samaritan vessel crews also aided the rescue teams in their search efforts.

Search operation suspended after 24 hours

However, after an operation that lasted nearly 24 hours, the Coast Guard suspended the search "pending the development of new information."

The missing people were identified as David Maynard, Mary Maynard, Colton Maynard and Brantley Maynard. The Coast Guard did not specify their ages except that Colton and Brantley were minors.

"The decision to suspend a search is never easy and involves the careful consideration of many factors including environmental conditions and search operations," U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Shannon Kerney said in an email to USA TODAY. "Our deepest condolences go out to the family, friends, and loved ones of the missing people during this unimaginably difficult time."

'Tragic'

A friend of the family, Stetson Chase, had shared the news of the missing family in a post on Facebook and had requested for prayers with the mother of Mary's permission.

"This is tragic," Chase had written. "While we may not have been best friends, we just knew each other through sports and our kiddos, I think I can vouch for many that they were a wonderful, caring and loving family that deserves to be brought home."

Another friend of the Maynards also set up a GoFundMe account for any "unexpected expenses that the family would have to cover so suddenly."

"For those who don’t know, this sweet family of four was lost at sea on their vacation to Alaska," organizer Tanashea Aviles wrote on the account page. "Mary’s parents are still there hoping to bring them home. This family is going through a lot right now."

Aviles described the Maynards as loving and family-oriented people and said they left "a huge imprint on many people."

The GoFund account, that Aviles said was set up with the family's permission, crossed the goal of $10,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.