Body found in Pacific County presumed to be lost mariner

The body of a man washed ashore in Pacific County Monday matches the description of a man presumed lost at sea after setting sail for the South Pacific.

But an autopsy, likely to be completed this week, will attempt to positively identify what authorities suspect is the body of John Phillip Stapp, Grays Harbor Undersheriff Rick Scott said Tuesday.

Stapp, 51, was sailing with Kingston resident Teri A. Dascher, 47, when authorities believe their 25-foot sailboat met with a violent storm.

Dascher's body was recovered Oct. 23.

Scott said the man's body was found on the Long Beach Peninsula, in the Ocean Park area, about 25 miles south of where Dascher's body was recovered. More debris, presumably from the 25-foot Coronado sailboat, Connie B, was also found. The debris included pieces of the boat's fiberglass hull, framework, cabin and toilet.

"We're not getting any one huge piece of it," Scott said.

Scott said the body resembles Stapp in approximate weight, size and age.

"We have got to hold off until they say for sure," Scott said.

Stapp had been living aboard the boat at a Kingston marina, the Seattle Times reported.

Scott said it was difficult to say where the boat met with catastrophe by the drift of the debris, noting that the pair had not filed a navigational plan with the Coast Guard.