Recovery made in critical missing man search

Published 7:27 pm Tuesday, September 17, 2024

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A vehicle and a body were recovered Tuesday from the ship channel at the sea wall that is believed to be that of a missing Beaumont man.

Justice of the Peace Joseph Guillory II ordered an autopsy.

Members of Port Arthur Fire Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit worked to locate the vehicle in the waterway Tuesday.

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Wrecker trucks involved in the recovery effort were parked on the sea wall where the recovered 2019 black 4-door Jaguar was obscured from the public nearby. A tarp was placed on the vehicle and used to shield the scene.

Port Arthur Police Officers and other authorities use a tarp to shield the car belonging to Robert “Bob” Quinn. Quinn’s body was recovered with the car. (Mary Meaux/The News)

The car was brought from the waters at approximately 5:49 p.m. Guillory said.

The car is believed to be that of Robert “Bob” Quinn, 80, of Beaumont who was reported as critically missing to authorities at about 2:30 p.m. Monday.

Family of Quinn shared with Guillory that the senior citizen had an altered mental state and early form of dementia.

An alert was sent out by BPD with identifying information regarding Quinn and his vehicle.

Port Arthur Police Chief Tim Duriso said they received a report from someone who saw a vehicle go into the water that matched the description of the missing man’s vehicle around 9:45 p.m. Monday.

Authorities believe Quinn followed Woodworth Boulevard to the dead end at the sea wall and continued over and into the water. A license plate was found on nearby rocks that matched that of Quinn’s car.

Port Arthur Interim Fire Chief Robert Havens said divers attempted to search for the vehicle Monday night but the rip current was too strong.

The search resumed Tuesday morning.