Santa Barbara Native and Marine Veteran Missing Following Rowing Incident

A Santa Barbara native and Marine veteran is missing following a rowing incident on a Montana lake last month.

Jerry, also a Marine veteran, is now raising money to lead a private search after official efforts were called off, saying, “I can’t leave him out there.”

A GoFundMe has been launched to help fund equipment and a search boat so Jerry can return to the lake and bring his brother home.

Dominguez, a father, husband, and Santa Barbara High School graduate, was training with the OARward Bound team as part of a mission to row 16,000 miles across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans from Morocco to Tanzania. The group raises funds for nonprofits, including the Wounded Warrior Project.

According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Department in Montana, Dominguez’s non-motorized boat capsized during turbulent waters on July 15. The rough waters continued, making search and rescue efforts challenging.

Dominguez and two others were aboard a high-tech, two-person boat called Cosimo. Two members of the three-person crew were rescued and taken to the hospital to be treated for hypothermia.

According to local news reports, the two people that were rescued were tethered to the capsized boat and Dominguez was not. They reportedly attempted to reach him by rope but due to the turbulent weather, were unable to.

“I know James/Dingo meant so much to so many of you. But for me, he’s my other half,” said Jerry. “We’ve always had each other’s backs. I know without a doubt that he would do the same for me. I can’t and won’t leave him out there. This isn’t just about me. It’s for all of us who love him. Especially our mom. I’m doing everything I can to find him and bring him home,” he stated.

The funds from the GoFundMe will directly go toward the search and recovery mission that includes gear and maintenance, and transporting Dominguez home to Santa Barbara.