The Missing
William “Hokey” Hokanson and William “Billy” Hokanson Jr.
Atlantic Ocean
🌊🚤 The Mysterious Disappearance of the Hokansons🚨
William “Hokey” Hokanson Sr. and his 19 year old son, William “Billy” Hokanson Jr., vanished during what was supposed to be a routine fishing trip in the Atlantic Ocean on March 25, 1990. The two were last seen boarding their boat, the Sol-e-Mar, in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Not long after setting out, Billy transmitted a desperate four-second mayday call: “This is the fishing vessel Sol-e-Mar. This is a MAYDAY, we’re sinking, we need help now!” Tragically, the call was distorted by static and went unrecognized in time. Adding to the confusion, a second transmission followed shortly after, someone laughing while falsely claiming, “SOS, I’m sinking.” Both calls were believed to be hoaxes, and no rescue response was launched.
It wasn’t until March 30 that Mrs. Hokanson reported her husband, son, and their two dogs never returned home, starting an official search. The U.S. Coast Guard scoured the Atlantic for three days but found nothing. Weeks later, a volunteer crew discovered the Sol-e-Mar resting at the bottom of the ocean, yet there was still no sign of William or Billy.
Years later, in 1996, human remains were recovered from the ocean, but dental comparisons to the Hokansons proved inconclusive. It wasn’t until 2014, 24 years after they vanished, that the father and son were added to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs.) The family is hoping that DNA testing might finally bring answers.
The tragedy had a lasting impact. The case marked the first known instance where a hoax distress call interfered with a Coast Guard rescue. As a result, it led to significant changes in how emergency calls are handled, stricter penalties for hoax callers, and improvements in search and rescue procedures. Today, the disappearance of the Hokansons remains unsolved, a sobering reminder of how quickly lives can be lost at sea, and how critical every second is when responding to a cry for help. 💔
If you have any information, please contact the Massachusetts State Police at (508) 997-0711.
Sources:
RI – RI – William Hokanson, 44, & William Hokanson Jr, 19, 25 Mar 1990 – Lost at sea | Websleuths
‘Sol e Mar’ offers look into tragedy, change for island community
Hoax calls affect us all – Bay Marine
Missing: William “Hokey” Hokanson Sr | Atlantic Ocean, RI | Uncovered
Missing: William “Billy” Hokanson Jr | Atlantic Ocean, RI | Uncovered
The Lost & The Taken 
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