Missing boater found dead on Goat Island

KENNEBUNKPORT – The body of a lighthouse keeper missing since Friday was found Monday morning on the island where he maintained a lighthouse.

The body of Richard Curtis was found about 7:30 a.m. by a Maine State Police dive team on the northeast corner of the island, said Kevin Smith, a communications officer with the Kennebunkport Police Department.

Curtis last was seen Friday evening when he said he was going out in his open aluminum boat for a sunset cruise in waters off this southern Maine town.

On Sunday, a Coast Guard helicopter searching for Curtis off the Cape Porpoise section of Kennebunkport spotted the boat along the shore on the northeast side of Goat Island.

Searchers from several area towns and volunteers from lobster boats had joined the Coast Guard. But the search was suspended Sunday afternoon because efforts were hampered by wind and weather conditions.

Curtis had two dogs with him for the trip, but there was no sign of the animals Monday morning.