Moms holding out hope for missing Florida boys’ return

The family has taken vacations to the Bahamas on their boat. It’s possible the boys ended up there, she said.

“It is not ruled out by any means whatsoever,” she said, adding she is grateful for the diligence of the Coast Guard and other agencies involved in the search for her son.

Perry also enjoys skateboarding, playing baseball and going out with his friends. Wherever he goes, he’s always conscientious about checking in, Pamela Cohen said.

The reward for their safe return was up to $60,000 Saturday evening.

Stephanos has been on a boat since before he could walk and always had an amazing love of the water, his mom, Carly Black said. He’s had a boat since he was seven, she said.

Stephanos, of Tequesta, often fishes just off the Jupiter coast.

“He’s always had an amazing love for the water, an amazing respect for the water,” Black said.

He and Cohen are both athletic, strong kids, Black said. They’ve been friends for about four years and are neighbors. Black got a text from her son checking in at 11:25 a.m. Friday and knew something was wrong when she didn’t hear from him again by mid-afternoon.

She said the Coast Guard is her “ray of light.”

“I know they’re doing everything they can to bring them home,” Black said.

The families, their business associates and the community are also offering a $50,000 reward.

UPDATE 3:10 p.m.: The Coast Guard is continuing to search off the coast of Melbourne, Petty Officer Mark Barney said. Barney wasn't sure where they'll search next. They're "deeply concerned" about weather, given the boys are in the open sea by themselves.

It’s hard to say how far the boys could have traveled with the amount of gas they had, Barney said.

“The current alone could have taken them pretty far,” he said.

Authorities notified the Royal Bahamian Defense Force about the boys and provided their pictures in the event they come across them while doing patrols. The teens were not headed to the Bahamas but went in that direction.

UPDATE 10:40 a.m.: The Coast Guard intends to continue its search throughout the day. Rescue crews are now searching off the coast of Melbourne, Fla. They've covered more than 5,300 square nautical miles.

Coast Guard cutters are searching with the help of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. A Coast Guard HC-130 from the air station in Clearwater is also assisting with the search.

UPDATE 10:15 a.m.: Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen were headed in the direction of the Bahamas but not to there when they set off on a fishing trip from the Jupiter Inlet, Austin's aunt Margaux Stephanos said. A news release from the Coast Guard yesterday indicated the boys were believed to be heading toward the Bahamas.

The friends were headed east to go offshore fishing. The family lives on the water, Margaux Stephanos said.

“He’s been fishing his entire life. As long as I can remember,” she said.

The teens are aboard a 19-foot white single-engine center console vessel, according to the Coast Guard.

UPDATE 9:20 a.m.: The Coast Guard has identified the two missing teens as Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen. They're asking anyone who has seen them to report it to authorities.

Original post: The Coast Guard is still searching Saturday morning for two boys who went missing after leaving the Jupiter Inlet Friday afternoon for a fishing trip.

The 14-year-old boys were last seen leaving the Inlet about 1:30 p.m. Friday after purchasing $110 worth of fuel. They were headed for the Bahamas on a fishing trip, officials reported. Coast Guard Sector Miami started searching for the boys around 5 p.m.

Crews planned to search for the missing teens through the night. The Coast Guard is using a plane, helicopter and boat crews to search for the boys.