Police Confirm Missing 19-Year-Old Left Nantucket On Seastreak Ferry

A week after Carlando Panton was reported missing on the island by his family, the Nantucket Police Department Detective Unit confirmed that the 19-year-old traveled to the mainland aboard the Seastreak ferry to New Bedford on July 23rd.

Panton was last seen on Tuesday, July 22, around 8:30 p.m. in the area of Nobadeer Farm Road and Hanabea Lane, wearing a dark blue baseball hat, black hooded sweatshirt, brown shorts, and white Nike sneakers. Panton's family reported him missing the following night, on Wednesday, July 23, prompting an island-wide search by police and concerned citizens.

But now, island detectives believe Panton boarded the Seastreak ferry at 4:30 p.m. on July 23rd, just hours before he was reported missing by his family.

"He remains reported missing and we ask that you please share this updated missing person notice," Nantucket Police Department Lt. Angus MacVicar said on Wednesday. 

After conducting searches for Panton last Wednesday and Thursday, which included the use of a drone in remote areas of the island, the Nantucket Police Department formally announced that he was missing on Friday, July 25th at 9:50 a.m., and asked the public for its assistance in locating him.

"Carlando recently arrived to Nantucket this past Sunday and is unfamiliar with the island," Nantucket Police said in a statement last Friday. "We have received information from the family that he could possibly be hiding in the area."

Island resident Elizah Tripp has been organizing groups of people to distribute flyers around the island and search for Panton.

"We are praying for a safe return," Tripp said.

Anyone with information regarding Panton is urged to contact the Nantucket Police Department at 508-228-1212, or to email Detective Amanda Schwenk at aschwenk@police.nantucket-ma.gov