Search ending for missing Canadian fisherman in western NY

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Coast Guard is ending its search for a Canadian fisherman whose boat washed ashore in the United States earlier this week.

Commander Tad Drozdowski cites the amount of time that’s passed since 37-year-old Giusseppe “Joe” Reinhart set out alone on Lake Erie Tuesday. He announced an end to the search, pending new developments, effective at sunset on Thursday.

Over three days, crews searched more than 5,300 nautical square miles, covering the eastern portion of the lake from Dunkirk, New York, on the U.S. side to Port Colborne, Ontario, on the Canadian side, and part of the Niagara River.

Reinhart’s on parole after serving time for manslaughter, but Niagara Regional Police call a published report that he may have faked his death unsubstantiated.

Reinhart’s mother and brother declined to comment.