The search for 7-year-old Hunter Slezak has come to a heartbreaking end. Authorities have stopped searching for the boy, who went missing almost a month ago after going on a boating trip with his father, Michael Slezak, 40, and a family friend, Sam Wooley, 69. Both men were found dead shortly after the boat disappeared, but Hunter was never found.
The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) announced on Monday, December 16, that they had suspended search efforts the day before. Sheriff Paul Burch explained, “We did everything we could on the water, in the air, and with divers.
It is our hope and prayer that the Slezak family will find some closure. We ask anyone in the area to let us know if they see anything that could help with Hunter’s case.”
The tragedy began on Friday, November 29, when Hunter, his father, and Wooley went out on their boat, the MARTY ANN, from the Billy Goat Hole Boat Ramp on Dauphin Island, Alabama.
That evening, the U.S. Coast Guard received a report that the boat was overdue. By the next day, November 30, a Coast Guard team found debris about nine miles south of Dauphin Island. The bodies of Michael Slezak and Sam Wooley were recovered, but there was no sign of Hunter.
Capt. Robert Tucker of the Coast Guard expressed deep sympathy for the families affected. “We are deeply saddened by this tragic event and offer our sincerest condolences to the families, friends, and communities mourning this loss,” he said in a statement.
On December 15, Hunter’s family held a memorial service for him at the Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. His obituary painted a picture of a loving and cheerful boy who brought joy to those around him. “Hunter was full of sweet smiles and gave lots of hugs. He brought happiness to everyone,” it read. “He loved his family, playing sports, and spending time outside. He was deeply loved and will be missed by all.”
Hunter’s mother, Megan Slezak, took to Facebook the same day to thank everyone who supported her family during this painful time. She described the past weeks as an “overwhelming nightmare” but said she was also overwhelmed by the kindness and support she had received.
“Thank you to the thousands of people who showed their support in so many ways,” Megan wrote. “Thank you for the prayers, messages, calls, meals, flowers, gifts, donations, and to those who organized and attended candlelight vigils and funeral services. Thank you to everyone who searched for my son on land, sea, and air, and to those who provided resources to help the search. I couldn’t have made it through these weeks without all of you.”
The boating accident has left the Slezak family and their community heartbroken. Megan also shared how much Hunter meant to her and everyone who knew him. She said he was a kind, caring, and happy boy who always looked out for others. His love for his family and the outdoors will be remembered forever.
The community has come together to support the Slezak family in their time of grief. People have organized vigils, donated to help with funeral costs, and offered prayers and messages of love. Even though the search has ended, the family is holding on to the love and kindness from everyone around them to get through this incredibly difficult time.
Hunter’s tragic disappearance, along with the loss of his father and their family friend, has been a reminder of how precious and fragile life is. The Slezak family will continue to honor Hunter’s memory and cherish the love he brought into their lives.
