Authorities search for missing kayakers

Associated Press

SANDUSKY

Authorities along Lake Erie spent Sunday searching for a father and his 12-year-old daughter who were last seen in their kayaks the night before on Sandusky Bay.

Two empty kayaks were found floating Sunday morning in the bay, but there was no sign of the 30-year-old man and his daughter, the Erie County Sheriff’s office said.

The pair did not have life jackets when they set out on the water early Saturday evening. The sheriff’s office said the two who were missing are Jonathan Francis, of Sandusky, and his daughter Viola Francis.

The man’s girlfriend told The Blade newspaper in Toledo that they did not take the life jackets because it was just going to be a short trip.

“They were only going to be gone a few hours, and they didn’t come back,” said Sheila McClain.