Body of missing Fla. boater found in Gulf of Mexico

ST. PETERSBURG – A helicopter search crew has found the body of a missing Florida boater in the Gulf of Mexico.

The U.S. Coast Guard said 56-year-old Tommie Lipford of Largo had gone out on his 21-foot Kenner fishing boat Friday and was reported missing by his family at about 2 a.m. Sunday.

His body was found roughly four miles from his boat at about 11 a.m. The boat was anchored with its lights on. It’s unclear how Lipford died.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission is investigating.