MASSACHUSETTS, United States--The FBI has joined the investigation into the disappearance of an American who vanished seven months ago in the Cayman Islands. Norman Lee, a 20-year veteran of the DC and Marvel comics world, was said to have been snorkelling with his wife near their hotel on Grand Cayman on March 5 when the two were separated about 250 feet from shore.
Lee’s wife reportedly swam back to the beach and filed a missing persons report. There has been no trace of him since. At the time of the 47-year-old artist’s disappearance, the currents were said to have been very strong.
Cayman Police told the Patriot Ledger that the reef where the couple was swimming is about 400 to 500 yards from a large ocean-floor drop that goes down several thousand feet. An extensive air and water search for the Weymouth, Massachusetts man drew a blank.
“We put all assets available to us, both law enforcement and privately owned,” said Police Chief Inspector Brad Ebanks at the time of the incident. We thank all those who assisted us in this time of need. Unfortunately we were unable to find or recover Mr Lee.”
The Joint Marine Unit, a team combining Police, Customs, and Immigration, sent two vessels, while three were sent by the Department of Environment. A dozen volunteer divers joined the search along with the Marine Enforcement Unit, Cayman Helicopter, and a handful of local water sport operators.
“The currents in that area are strong and it is unlikely that we will make any recovery at this stage,” the police said in a statement when active search and recovery orders were withdrawn.
Authorities continued to encourage people in the area to call in any sightings of interest, but Lee was not seen again.
Lee’s wife reportedly left the island after giving her final statement on the incident.
Metro US reports that Kristen Setera, a spokeswoman for the FBI’s Boston office, this week confirmed to the Weymouth, Massachusetts, Patriot Ledger that the agency is assisting the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service in their investigation. She declined further comment on the ongoing investigation.
In a statement to Grand Cayman’s Cayman 27, the police said, “As is done on all investigations involving missing persons from other jurisdictions, authorities from the other jurisdiction, in this case the FBI, are working with us on what continues to be an open investigation.”
Neither the FBI nor the Cayman police would comment on whether foul play was suspected in Lee’s disappearance.
Lee was known for his work on Marvel Adventures: The Avengers, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Wolverine and the X-Men, as well as other popular action adventure series.
