On Friday evening, the family of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend released a statement revealing that the search for her daughter, Maeve, and grandson, Gideon, has turned into a "recovery" mission.
"With profound sadness, I share the news that the search for my beloved daughter Maeve and grandson Gideon has turned from rescue to recovery," Kennedy Townsend said in a statement to USA TODAY.
McKean's husband, human rights lawyer, David McKean, took to Facebook on Friday where he confirmed that the family believes it's "clear that Maeve and Gideon have passed away."
"I am writing here to address the countless people who have loved my wife Maeve and my son Gideon. As many of you have seen, they went missing in the Chesapeake Bay yesterday afternoon," McKean wrote. "Despite heroic efforts by the Coast Guard and many state and local authorities, the decision has now been made to suspend the active rescue effort. The search that began yesterday afternoon went on throughout the night and continued all day today. It is now dark again. It has been more than 24 hours, and the chances they have survived are impossibly small. It is clear that Maeve and Gideon have passed away. The search for their recovery will continue, and I hope that that will be successful."
He went on to explain that the family was self-quarantined at a home owned by her mother in Chesapeake Bay on Thursday. Gideon and Maeve were playing kickball when one of them kicked the ball into a shallow cove. They got into a canoe to retrieve that ball but were pushed into the greater Chesapeake Bay. 30 minutes later, they were spotted by an onlooker from land who called the police. The Coast Guard retrieved the capsized canoe miles away from shore at around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Along with being the former lieutenant governor of Maryland, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend is also the eldest child of Robert F. Kennedy. This makes Maeve the granddaughter of the late politician and grandniece of President John F. Kennedy.
"Maeve was vivid," Kennedy Townsend explained. "You always knew when she was in a room. Her laughter was loud, unabashed and infectious. She did everything with her full self and her whole heart. She gave the best hugs, sang loudly and out of tune, danced, wrestled, argued, forgave. Maeve shone ... The role she treasured most was mom."
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced during a press conference that he has spoken to the Kennedy family.
"I reached out to and spoke with lieutenant Governor Townsend this morning and, on behalf of the people of Maryland, I expressed out most heartfelt sympathies and prayers to her and to her entire family during this difficult time."
The deaths of Maeve and Gideon add to the tragedies that have marred the Kennedy family including the murders of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and the death of John F. Kennedy, Jr.
