ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS – A 57-year-old Highlands man was found dead after Seastreak Ferry crew members discovered unattended belongings on their vessel early September 24, authorities said.
Police said the crew contacted the Atlantic Highlands Police Department around 5:30 a.m. after noticing bags left near the bow of the ferry. Surveillance footage later showed a man disembarking and walking out of camera view.
A K-9 unit, the New Jersey State Police Marine Unit, and the U.S. Coast Guard assisted in the search. Lt. Zudonyi of the Atlantic Highlands Police deployed a drone, which located an object inside the break wall near the municipal harbor’s mooring field.
The State Police Marine Unit helped recover the body, which was identified as the same man seen on surveillance video earlier that morning. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
Authorities said the death is under investigation but is not considered suspicious.
