Brownsville shrimper found dead 5 miles offshore

The body of shrimper reported missing at sea was recovered by the U.S. Coast Guard Wednesday, and local law enforcement officials suspect the death could be a homicide.

Lt. Mickey Lalor, commander of the South Padre Island Coast Guard station, said a call came in Wednesday morning from the shrimp boat Matilda Tower, saying they had a man missing and presumed overboard.

The shrimper was reportedly last seen by the crew at 1:30 a.m., according to a Coast Guard press release.

Lalor said a helicopter search crew spotted the body in the water about five miles northeast of South Padre Island at 10:40 a.m. and directed a boat crew to the location. The boat crew retrieved the body, he said.

The Matilda Tower’s homeport is Port Isabel, and so the Coast Guard notified the Cameron County Precinct 1 Constable’s office.

Constable Horatio Zamora said the middle-aged victim had suspicious marks on his body, and he thought it might be a homicide case. Justice of the Peace Rolando Muniz ordered an autopsy.

Zamora said he notified the FBI concerning the possibility of a homicide at sea.

A spokesman for the FBI who would not identify himself on the phone said his organization never comments on an ongoing investigation.

The victim’s name was not released pending notification of next of kin.