We will not stop until they are brought home.

The F/V Lily Jean Retrieval Initiative was established by the families and loved ones of Freeman, John, and Sean, three crew members lost aboard the F/V Lily Jean.

While the vessel has been located, our loved ones remain at sea.

Our mission is to advocate for the retrieval of Freeman, John, and Sean so they may be returned to their families for dignified burial, remembrance, and the closure that every family deserves. We also seek a thorough understanding of the circumstances that led to the sinking of the vessel, so that lessons may be learned and future tragedies prevented.

For our families, this effort is about honoring the lives of the men we lost, preserving their stories, and ensuring they are never forgotten. It is about seeking answers to the questions that remain and pursuing every reasonable opportunity to bring them home.

This website serves as a resource for information regarding ongoing recovery efforts, investigation updates, and official communications related to the F/V Lily Jean. New developments will be shared here as they become available.

We are deeply grateful to the individuals, organizations, maritime professionals, experts, public officials, and supporters who continue to stand with us in our pursuit of retrieval, accountability, and closure.

Our Mission

Retrieval 

We support efforts to evaluate and pursue the recovery of Freeman, John, and Sean so they may be returned to their families and laid to rest with the dignity, respect, and honor they deserve.

Investigation 

We encourage continued, transparent examination of the circumstances surrounding the loss of the F/V Lily Jean. Families deserve answers, and any remaining questions should be thoroughly explored so that the fullest possible understanding of what happened can be achieved.

Prevention 

Understanding why the vessel sank is important not only for our families, but for the safety of future generations of mariners. Lessons learned from this tragedy may help prevent similar losses at sea.

Remembrance 

We are committed to preserving the lives, stories, and legacies of Freeman, John, and Sean. Through this initiative, we honor their memory and ensure they are never forgotten. Our efforts are guided by love, respect, perseverance, and the belief that every family deserves answers and every loved one deserves to come home.