A peaceful Saturday outing turned into a heart-wrenching nightmare when two friends, 27-year-old Shane Garcia and 25-year-old Aaron Montemarano, vanished while kayaking in the waters of Shinnecock Bay off Long Island. What began as a carefree paddle near the Ponquogue Bridge ended in sorrow for their families and the local community as authorities mounted a tireless search and ultimately retrieved both young men’s bodies.
Late on Saturday evening, around 8:45 p.m., Garcia’s girlfriend reported him missing after he failed to return from the kayaking trip he had embarked upon earlier that day. His work van was discovered parked at the end of Shinnecock Avenue in Hampton Bays — a detail that deepened the concern for his safety and led police to launch an urgent search.
Earlier that day, Garcia had sent his girlfriend a photo capturing the two friends — himself and Montemarano — joyfully kayaking near the Ponquogue Bridge. That image now stands as the last sign of life for the pair, a haunting reminder of how suddenly things turned. The pair set out together, and by evening neither had returned to shore.
The search effort, coordinated by the New York State Police Underwater Recovery Team along with marine and local units, pulled out all the stops. Sonar equipment, dive teams, beach patrols, drones and aerial scans swooped across the bay and the adjacent shoreline in a race against time. On Sunday, two kayaks and a pair of paddles were found washed up near Shinnecock East County Park, giving rescuers their first tangible clues.
Sunday evening, divers recovered Garcia’s body deep in the bay. Less than 24 hours later, on Monday morning, authorities located and retrieved Montemarano’s remains. While the exact cause of their deaths remains under investigation, the outcome has left a tight-knit community grappling with grief and unanswered questions.
Garcia’s girlfriend posted an emotional tribute on social media, remembering her companion as both partner and best friend. “Five years doesn’t feel long enough, but I’m so beyond grateful for the time that we shared… You weren’t just my partner — you were my best friend. Thank you for all the laughter and the tears… I love you endlessly, my baby boy… until we meet again.” She had also appealed to friends and the community to help in the search, highlighting Shane’s generous nature and the way he always showed up for others.
As the investigation by the Southampton Town Police Department continues, the episode serves as a sobering reminder of the unpredictable dangers of open-water recreation. The two young men are being mourned not only for their lives lost, but for the joy, laughter, friendship and generosity they brought into the lives around them.