Jeffrey Ford Hanson fled the United States with his 9-year-old son Billy on a sailboat last fall . The boy was found dead in an abandoned boat off Florida's coast this week and authorities are investigating whether he drowned or died of hypothermia.
Jeffrey Ford Hanson fled the United States with his 9-year-old son Billy on a sailboat last fall . Billy was visiting in July and was supposed to be sent back to his mother in Pennsylvania on September 4 , but the boy was not on the flight . Authorities found Hanson and his son on October 29 on the island country of Niue , located in the South Pacific Ocean . Hanson 's friends told Seattle police that Hanson lived on a boat , was dangerous and had a history of alcohol and drug abuse . Friend Carey Jambresic said the boy could not swim and said Hanson was actively smoking crystal methamphetamine , taking oxycontin and drinking .