Despite hours of searching the waters around Fox Island on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the Coast Guard was not able to locate the girl, the relative or the boat where the radio call came from. The Coast Guard suspended the search until further notice before noon Wednesday.

Now, the agency is trying to determine whether the radio call from a girl who identified herself as “Kelsey” was a hoax.

The girl called the Coast Guard at 5:11 p.m. Tuesday using VHF Channel 16, a radio channel boaters use to directly contact the Coast Guard if they need assistance, U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Jeff Poolinger said Wednesday. The caller reported a relative, possibly named Kelly, was in the water and possibly unconscious, Poolinger said.

The girl, who is believed to be 6 years old, stopped transmitting before officials were able to get her location. The Coast Guard has not heard from her since the initial call. The Coast Guard launched a helicopter from Port Angeles and a 40-foot utility boat from Seattle. Crews searched for about seven hours Tuesday night but found no boater in distress, Poolinger said.

An aircraft resumed the search Wednesday morning and was focusing on the Fox Island area in Pierce County. Officials have determined that’s where the girl’s call likely came from.

They also are investigating whether the call was related to two green flares spotted Tuesday night in the same area. Normally, red flares are used by boaters in distress, Poolinger said.

“We don’t know if both cases are related,” he said.

The Coast Guard was broadcasting an emergency message, asking boaters in the area to “keep a sharp lookout and report anything to the Coast Guard,” Poolinger said.

They’d like to hear from anyone else who heard the girl’s call.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Coast Guard’s Seattle office at 206-217-6001.

Stacey Mulick: 253-597-8268

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