Missing US Navy sailor: Search effort ends Friday for missing US Navy Sailor Seamus Gray, last seen outside Ibiza bar in Waukegan
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WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WLS) — Waukegan police said the search effort for Seamus Gray ended Friday after an extensive effort and no sign of the Navy sailor.

The search was expanded Friday to North Chicago, toward the naval base, where they suspect Gray might’ve been heading.

“We did search the heavily wooded area, the beaches along the coast of the water and also the Coast Guard was out on the water as well searching,” Waukegan Police Commander Scott Chastain said at a press conference Friday. “After an extensive search, exhausting all of our efforts, we made it all the way back to the base and we were unable to locate him at this time.”

Commander Chastain said drones and a canine were used to help the volunteers, which included Navy personell.

Police give update on end of search efforts

After Friday’s search came up empty, Commander Chastain said the seach effort was ending.

“We’ve searched every area we can search at this time,” he said.

Commander Chastain said the efforts in their investigation into what happened will continue.

“If we develop any other leads, we definietely will be coming back out if that is what our leads take us too,” he said.

Police said the last time 21-year-old Florida native and Navy sailor Seamus Gray was spotted on camera is at 2 a.m., walking very close to the lake shoreline.

One hundred US Navy personnel helped in Friday’s search. Most of the land they’re covering is privately owned, so they said they had to get access from property owners.

Surveillance video around 1:30 a.m. Saturday shows Gray, dressed in red, standing outside the Ibiza Bar on Genessee Street with friends, after managers sai he appeared drunk and was asked to leave.

Minutes later, another camera showed him walking alone through an alley behind the bar, heading east toward the lake.

‘He is my life’: Mother asks for help to find Navy sailor

Waukegan police and naval investigators are working desperately to find him, as Gray’s mother Kerry struggles to maintain hope.

“I’m here, I’m going through dumpsters, looking for my son,” she said. “That’s my boy. That’s my guy. His little brother is 14, and he’s my son’s role model. He’s my, he’s my life. So please help find Seamus.”

Police plan to provide us another update, once their search is complete Friday. They continue to ask anyone with any information to call police immediately.

Among those volunteering to help with the search Thursday was Ibiza’s manager.

“We sat with his mom yesterday for over three hours at our business with the detectives. Went over all the footage,” said Ibiza Bar manager, Adrian Hernandez.

Although Hernandez said he doesn’t know for sure, he believes those pictured along with him were also sailors from Great Lakes.

From the sound on the video, they were talking about going back to the base,” Hernandez said.

Naval Station Great Lakes released a statement saying: “The Navy is aware that the Waukegan Police Department is conducting an investigation in an attempt to locate Fireman Recruit Seamus Gray, an active-duty service member assigned to Surface Warfare Engineering School Command Great Lakes. He was reported missing on March 21, 2023. The Great Lakes Naval Criminal Investigative Service office is assisting with the investigation.. Please direct all additional questions to the Waukegan Police Department. The Navy will continue to work with all law enforcement agencies involved in the case. Our thoughts are with Fireman Recruit Gray’s family during this difficult time.”

Waukegan Police now working with Naval investigators NCIS.

Police ask anyone with any information to call police immediately.

“I would like for anyone who has any information about my son Seamus to please come forward and please help me,” Kerry said.

As for why the missing person’s report was only filed on Tuesday when Seamus has been missing since early Saturday, Waukegan police said it was simply because it was not until then that authorities at the Naval Base received information that this is where he was last seen

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