Sousa says the police department has been in touch with Garmin after Mercenari's family pointed out that the 29-year-old was wearing one of the company's watches. He adds that Garmin has been very accommodating and responsive.
However, he tells New Times that privacy issues and the fact that the watch was not synced to Mercenari's phone make it difficult to determine his location.
"Garmin is working with law enforcement," Sousa says. "I spoke to Garmin four or five times myself."
Update 9:40 a.m. 6/28/24: At 11 p.m. on Thursday, the Coast Guard announced it was suspending its search for Luciano Mercenari. Its search spanned more than 2,000 square miles — an area about the size of Delaware.
"Suspending an active search and rescue case is never an easy decision, and so it is with heavy hearts that we offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Mercenari’s family and friends," Coast Guard Sector Miami commanding officer Captain Chris Cederholm said in the press release. "We are grateful to our local and state partners for their assistance in this united effort."
The Coast Guard noted that Mercenari's dry bag and paddleboard were found four miles off Haulover Inlet on Tuesday.
Anyone with new information, please call Coast Guard Sector Miami at 305-535-4300. Mercenari's family and friends are still searching.
Update 2:35 p.m. 6/27/24: The search is still underway for Mercenari. His friends and family have taken to social media asking for help with the effort.
In a series of Instagram stories posted early Thursday afternoon, Juanita Campuzano said they need planes and boats searching from South Miami all the way to Port St. Lucie. She added they also need divers to help search in the mangroves.
"Please spread the word," she said. We need help."
Campuzano's Instagram profile has the contact information for the search organizers. She also wrote that those wanting to help can also direct message her on Instagram.
Update 8:28 a.m. 6/26/24: Mercenari's paddleboard and dry bag was found eight to 11 miles offshore between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, the Coast Guard announced on Tuesday.
The original story continues below:
A Miami paddleboarder went missing Monday evening while spearfishing off Key Biscayne.
The U.S. Coast Guard says Luciano Mercenari was last seen around 5:15 p.m. on Monday, June 24, leaving Cape Florida on Pines Canal in Key Biscayne. He was last seen on an aqua-and-orange paddleboard, wearing gray shorts and a light gray, long-sleeved "Reef Cheefs" rash guard.
In a TikTok posted late Tuesday afternoon, Mercenari's cousin Allegra Jacchia said the 29-year-old did not bring his phone and was not wearing an Apple watch when he left his house on Monday.
"We have boats. We have planes searching, but it's almost 6 p.m. in Miami now. It's getting dark," she said. "We're just extremely worried. This is so unlike him."
Jacchia urged anyone with a boat, plane, or drone to help with the search, which is being conducted in three areas, based on the tides. She said four planes were flying along the coast looking for Mercenari.
"We need more planes," she added. "We need more eyes. We need more people alert that can help us,"
Mercenari is six feet two inches tall, weighs approximately 200 pounds, and has short, dark-brown hair and close-trimmed facial hair. He has shared photos of himself on social media spearfishing and diving underwater.@allegrajacchia PLEASE HELP US BRING MY COUSIN HOME!! as of 6pm est we still havent been able to locate him. We need all the resources and eyes we can get. #missingperson #searching #luciano #missing #bringlucianohome #findluciano ♬ original sound - Allegra Jacchia
The Coast Guard asks everyone in the waterways off the coast of Miami, South Miami, the Florida Keys, Bimini, and the Bahamas for help locating Mercenari.
If you have any information about his disappearance and whereabouts, please contact:
- Key Biscayne Police Department: 305-365-5555
- U.S. Coast Guard: 305-535-4300 or 786-316-1074
