Vehicle of missing man pulled from Atlantic City waters

Connor Brown grew up fishing the coast from Cape May to Brigantine.

But his most recent big catch was a photo through his fish finder.

The captain of Retriever Charters was taking a group out Saturday at Clam Thorofare when he captured a side scan of what appeared to be a car.

When he talked to other captains, they suggested he talk to police about what he found.

"I was very surprised," he told BreakingAC. "I called the police and sent a picture late Saturday night."

Police said to call back in the morning and they would send some officers out with him.

"I was hoping I wasn't going to waste anyone's time," he said.

Brown definitely did not waste anyone's time.

    Don Brown posted a photo on Facebook that his son, Capt. Connor Brown, captured through a fish finder.
  

It turned out not only was it a car, it was one police had been looking for since the owner disappeared nearly eight years ago.

Dashand Stokelin was last seen Nov. 22, 2016. His family has been looking for him ever since. His vehicle, a blue 2016 Subaru Legacy, was also sought.

Now, it was found.

A diving operation by the Brigantine Fire Department Dive Team confirmed it was a vehicle that had been there an extended perior of time, Atlantic City police said Friday. 

    The initial search for the vehicle Sunday. (Photo by Don Brown)
  

New Jersey State Police and Iaconelli Construction removed the vehicle from the water Tuesday.  It now has been identified as the one being operated by Stokelin on the morning of his disappearance, Capt. Kevin Fair said.  

Detectives have conducted a search of the vehicle, which did not yield any human remains.

Brown — whose father shared a photo of the scan on social media — said he was unaware the car was part of a missing person case until he read a news story about the finding.

"I hope it helps the family," he said.

Anyone with information about this incident or the disappearance of Stokelin is asked to contact Atlantic City police at 609-347-5766. Information may also be texted anonymously to tip411 (847411), beginning the text with ACPD.

    Photo by Ray Peterson/St. Charles, Mo.