Autopsy Confirms Accidental Cause Of Death

OCEAN CITY -- Official autopsy results released this week revealed the death of an upstate New York man, who went missing in Ocean City in late April and was recovered in the bay nearly two weeks later, was accidental.

Ocean City Police this week confirmed the autopsy report for Lance Corey Gaines, 22, of Groton, N.Y., who was reported missing on April 21 and whose remains were recovered in the bay on May 1, revealed the manner of death was accidental and the cause of death was drowning, hypothermia and cardiomegaly.

Gaines, who was visiting Ocean City with his family in late April was last seen on April 21 around 1 a.m. at the Sandbar on 33rd Street. According to reports, family members said Gaines went out for a walk and later went to the popular night spot.

Gaines’ family reported him missing and a search was conducted throughout the area he was last seen to no avail. For much of the next two weeks, family and friends canvassed the resort area and distributed flyers seeking the public’s help in finding the missing man.

On Tuesday, May 1, the missing person case took a tragic turn when the young man’s remains were recovered by the Coast Guard in the bay not far from where he had last been seen. With the release of the autopsy report this week, the cause of death has been ruled accidental and the investigation is officially closed.