The family of Sandy Royster, a 41-year-old man from Okaloosa County, is seeking the public’s help in locating him after he went missing following a boat crash with a rig at Ship Shoal 87, approximately 48 miles offshore of Grand Isle, Louisiana, on March 12, 2024.
Royster, who is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 205 pounds, was aboard the boat “Lined Out” when the accident occurred. The U.S. Coast Guard received a report from the boat that they were taking on water with two people onboard and a third man who fell overboard.
Royster’s family is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to his exact location or return.
In the days following Royster’s disappearance, the U.S. Coast Guard, in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, conducted an extensive search operation.
- The search lasted more than 30 hours and covered over 926 square miles, utilizing multiple assets and resources, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Despite their efforts, the Coast Guard suspended active search efforts at around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 14, 2024, after saturating the probable search area. The incident remains under investigation.
Anyone with information that could assist in finding Royster is urged to contact his family at 985-876-3891 or 800-256-1533.
