A paddleboarder who reportedly went missing on Sunday evening off the shores of Martha’s Vineyard was found dead on Monday.
Authorities identified the man as Obama family’s chef, 43-year-old Tafari Campbell.
According to the report, Campbell was last seen paddleboarding with a companion when he encountered difficulties and disappeared beneath the water’s surface.
The tragic incident occured near the $12 million mansion owned by the Obama family.
Following Campbell’s mysterious and sudden disappearance, his companion notified the authorities who immediately initiated a joint-agency search operation.
Reports revealed that the 911 call and dispatch address used in the incident were linked to the Obama’s Martha’s Vineyard home.
The search operation started at about 7:46 PM on Sunday. The operation also involved different agencies, including the local police, Edgartown Fire, all other island fire departments, the Air Wing, State Police patrols, the Dukes County Sheriff’s Department, detectives, and the Coast Guard.
On Monday, the search operation resumed with both boat crews and divers utilizing side-scan sonar technology that would employ sound waves to create underwater images.
In addition, both the US Coast Guard helicopter crews and Massachusetts State Police Aerial support provided a bird’s eye view of the search area to further assist in the efforts.
Joining the teams from the previous night, the MSP Underwater Recovery Unit and the Massachusetts Environmental Police lent their expertise to the search operation.
Before 10 a.m. on the same day, the Massachusetts State Police divers made a grim discovery and recovered the body of the missing paddleboarder.
The body was found approximately 100 feet from the shore, at a depth of about eight feet. The victim’s remains were located by Massachusetts Environmental Police Officers using side-scan sonar from a boat.
Following the discovery, the Obama Family issued a statement.
“Tafari was a beloved part of our family. When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House – creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together,” Barack and former first lady Michelle Obama said.
“In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter,” they added.
Campbell’s wife also released a striking remark about her husband’s death.
“My heart is broken,” Campbell’s wife said. “My life and our family’s life is forever changed. Please pray for me and our families as I deal with the loss of my husband.”
