The Coast Guard did arrive and scour the island looking for survivors and clues to exactly what happened and how it happened.
What they found was a lot of dead bodies and an island that was charred beyond any reasonable theory could take them. In other words, they really couldn’t come to a conclusion.
Eventually with the help of many local citizens who live in or around Paradise Key, the Coast Guard did put together a theory. Exhaustive interviews with the owner of the boat ‘Forever’ as well as interviews with Cathleen Brassell-Jenkins and JoAnn Griswold were fruitful.
Continued investigations on the island led to the discoveries of other mines that did not explode during the days of fire and destruction. As soon as those mines were found, the investigation went dark and closed. To this day, the actual file for this experience cannot be obtained or opened. But what was leaked out and/or told to the media following the events were deemed unofficial and hearsay.
Other theories did surface. One in particular dealt with terrorism. Another dealt with it being an off shoot to the Somali Pirates off the eastern coast of Africa.
Those theories and any others took all of three days to tear apart as Hunter and Elaine James slowly began their trek to becoming healthy again. Their account of what had happened though was so bizarre that the Coast Guard originally disregarded it as made up.
The infuriated couple then decided to stick it to the Coast Guard and every other nonbeliever by putting a book together of their experience, which led to a four movie deal with Fractured Pictures out of North Dakota. Both Hunter and Elaine are now rich beyond their means and are also now capable for paying for their five times a week therapist appointments.
They have not sailed ever again.