About a week prior to the boys' disappearance, Stephanos had been stopped by a Marine Patrol Officer for a routine check, and all safety equipment mandated by Florida law was aboard the boat.
[7] A friend told reporters that another post from that day from Stephanos's account was a video of the fast-moving storm headed towards the boat, with the commentary; "We're f-cked".
Dozens of people, including NFL Hall-of-Famer Joe Namath, joined the search and participants followed shorelines and beaches looking for any debris washed ashore.
However, with the rediscovering of the boat on March 18, 2016 the parents of Cohen believed that there was potentially additional information on the fate of the children.
[12] However, as there is no other evidence of foul play, all the items found in the boat were turned over to the boys' families, without investigation into the objects.
[13] Cohen's parents argued that the phone being returned to Stephanos's family would potentially taint any evidence found on the iPhone.
[15] In September 2020, a Palm Beach County judge ruled that William "Blu" Stephanos was not liable in the disappearance of his son and Cohen.
A statue to honor the boys and others lost at sea was dedicated on July 22, 2021,[16] at the south jetty of the Jupiter Inlet memorial site.
According to Blu Stephanos, the statue not only represents everyone who has lost someone at sea but also commemorates the Jupiter-Tequesta community that assisted in searching for Austin and Perry and supported their families.
An inscription reads, "Keep the Light Shining for Austin & Perry.”[18] The fifth anniversary of their disappearance was marked in 2020, with both families engaging in separate memorials due to the ongoing legal battle.