The body of a Maryland boater was found Thursday, nearly three weeks after he was reported missing in the Chesapeake Bay, according to the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Police.

Lonnie James Johnson, 65, of Chesapeake Beach, was reported missing on Nov. 14, and his boat was found unoccupied near Taylors Island in Dorchester County. 

His body was found in the water near the northwest shoreline of Taylors Island, police said. 

Bob Bruns, a friend of Johnson, described him as a fisherman with more than 50 years of experience and the man at the center of the Chesapeake Bay fishing community. Another friend, Travis Long, described Johnson as a father, grandfather, proud veteran and reliable friend.

“He always would answer the phone, he always had an ear, he was one of those friends who would drop everything to give you support when you needed it,” Long said.

Johnson’s friends reported him missing when he didn’t show up for a fishing trip, according to Bruns. 

“He’s never late,” Bruns said. “…We realized something was wrong. His boat was gone, his truck and trailer were there, but it had frost on it, which meant it would have been there overnight.”

Police said Johnson had taken his boat out and never returned the day before he was reported missing. 

Bruns believes Johnson had a medical emergency and fell overboard. Police have not confirmed his manner of death. 

“You’re holding your breath hoping that he had passed out or fainted or something and would be in the boat, but when they got to the boat, the engine was running, it wasn’t in gear. Of course, his phone was ringing off the hook, and no evidence of foul play or anything. He just wasn’t in the boat,” Bruns told WJZ in November. 

Bruns said Johnson lost his wife, Cione, to cancer a few years ago. 

“His wife passed away, and we became very close, and he spends his Christmases and Thanksgivings here so he’s not at home by himself,” Bruns said. “He was just such an extraordinary guy.”

“My personal belief is that he’s no longer in that body, he’s in heaven with his wife Cione,” Bruns said in November. 

When it comes to enjoying a cocktail, there are three in Maryland that residents prefer more than others, according to a recent analysis.

A study by The Ice Maker Hub, published online by several publications including The Mommies Reviews, revealed America’s favorite cocktails based on search data.

Researchers used Google Keyword Planner to analyze the number of monthly searches on a state and national level between August 2024 and July 2025.

At 8,642 searches, the old fashioned was Maryland’s most popular cocktail, according to the study. Coming in at No. 2 was the classic margarita, followed by the espresso martini.

If any of those cocktails sound delicious, here’s how to craft them at home:

Old Fashioned

• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 teaspoon water
• 2 ounces bourbon (or rye whiskey, if preferred)
• Garnish: orange twist

Add the sugar and bitters into a mixing glass, then add the water, and stir until the sugar is nearly dissolved. Fill the mixing glass with ice, add the bourbon and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube. Express the oil of an orange twist over the glass, then drop it into the glass to garnish.

Margarita

• 2 ounces blanco tequila
• 1/2 ounce orange liqueur
• 1 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 1/2 ounce agave syrup
• Garnish: lime wheel and kosher salt (optional)

Add tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice and agave syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice, and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wheel and kosher salt rim (optional).

Espresso Martini

• 2 ounces vodka
• 1/2 ounce coffee liqueur (usually Kahlúa)
• 1 ounce espresso, freshly brewed (or cold brew concentrate)
• 1/4 ounce simple syrup

Add vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso and simple syrup to a shaker filled with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with three coffee beans.

Nationally, the old fashioned was America’s most popular cocktail, followed by the margarita and espresso martini.

Here’s a look at the top 10 most searched-for cocktails in the United States:

1. Old fashioned
2. Margarita
3. Espresso martini
4. Mojito
5. Moscow mule
6. Manhattan
7. Piña colada
8. Martini
9. White Russian
10. Negroni

“These results show how classic cocktails continue to dominate American preferences,” Scott Carswell, founder of The Ice Maker Hub, said. “The old fashioned has remained popular for generations because of its simple recipe that allows quality spirits to shine.”

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