Deep Run HS graduate Jada Samitt dies when Lily Jean sunk off Massachusetts coast

Jada Samitt, 22, was identified by her family in Richmond, Virginia as one of the crew members who died when the fishing vessel Lily Jean sank off the coast of Massachusetts last week. The U.S. Coast Guard on Saturday suspended its search for survivors in rough, frigid waters.

"It is with profound sadness and shattered hearts that we share the loss of our beloved Jada," her family in Richmond said in a statement. "She was vibrant and compassionate with an infectious smile and spirit. And, above all, she was brave and determined. She fiercely loved her friends and family. Today we are lost without her."

Samitt was working on the Lily Jean as a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fishery observer and crew member.

Samitt, who graduated from Deep Run High school in Glen Allen, graduated from the University of Vermont in 2025.

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