Joel G. Thompson, Jr. was a 48-year-old man from Lewes, Delaware, formerly of Keansburg, New Jersey, who was last known to have gone fishing at the Indian River Inlet in Sussex County. NamUs lists him as missing from Lewes, with his date of last contact recorded as April 26, 2010. The case is associated with NamUs MP7642 and is handled by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
According to NamUs and other missing-person listings, Joel was an avid fisherman and had told his wife he was going to his usual fishing spot at the Indian River Inlet, on the south side of the rock jetty. He did not return home. His fishing pole and tackle box were later found on the rock jetty, and his truck was located in the nearby parking lot. The circumstances reported by NamUs state that authorities believed Joel may have fallen or been swept from the rocks into the ocean current.
Contemporary local reporting described the search as beginning after Joel failed to come home from a late-night fishing trip near the base of the Indian River Inlet bridge. WHYY reported that family members contacted police when he had not returned, and that his Toyota Tacoma and cell phone remained at the parking lot. Search efforts included a Coast Guard rescue boat crew from Indian River, a helicopter crew from Atlantic City, and another rescue crew from Cape May, New Jersey.
The Cape Gazette reported shortly after Joel disappeared that people familiar with the inlet considered the area dangerous, but that Joel was regarded as an experienced angler who understood the risks. A fellow angler described him as seasoned and safety-conscious, making his disappearance especially shocking to those who knew him and knew the fishing conditions at the inlet.
Joel was described as a White male, approximately 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing between 132 and 165 pounds, with hazel eyes and a gray goatee. The Doe Network lists several identifying details, including moles on his neck and chest, scars on his neck, abdomen, and left arm, a buzzard tattoo on his right bicep, and a skull-and-sword tattoo with a ribbon on his left arm. He was also described as left-handed, with a ruddy skin tone and average build.
At the time he went missing, Joel was reported to have been wearing blue Dickies pants, a blue long-sleeve shirt, a green T-shirt with “Captain Joel” on the breast, and a black aqua skin suit; he may also have been wearing hip waders with cleats. Personal items associated with him included a gold necklace with a largemouth bass charm, a gold wedding band, and a brown tri-fold leather wallet. These details are important because they may help distinguish him if additional evidence is ever located.
Some memorial and obituary sources describe Joel as having been tragically lost while fishing at the Indian River Inlet, reflecting how his family and community understood the loss. However, the missing-person records available online continue to describe the case through the circumstances of his disappearance rather than a confirmed recovery. His case remains a deeply painful example of how quickly a familiar routine, even one carried out by an experienced fisherman, can become a lasting uncertainty for loved ones.Last Seen: Apr 26, 2010
