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Body of 1 of 2 missing boaters from Grosse Ile recovered in Detroit River

Posted at 8:29 AM, Aug 19, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-19 12:31:58-04

(WXYZ) — Police confirmed that the body of 52-year-old Robert Chiles was found in the Detroit River on Tuesday night. Chiles, from Grosse Ile, was one of two missing boaters after a boat capsized Sunday night.

Grosse Ile Police and Fire, the Wayne County Marine Division and Canadian Coast Guard, responded to an area in the Detroit River, just south of Stoney Island, around 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

A boater from Ontario saw the incident happen and helped the seven passengers to safety.

Chiles and 66-year-old Stephen Rooney, a priest from Trenton, went missing in the water. Crews began search and recovery missions on Monday.

It is unclear at this time exactly how the boat capsized. A total of 14 people were on board, including 5 children at the time of the incident.

A boat of this size (around 40 feet) capsizing is very rare, officials said. They're considering whether or not the boat hit something to make it tip over.

The boat reportedly rolled, according to a witness.

Chiles' wife went missing on the Detroit River in 2019.