A Fort Lauderdale millionaire who went missing more than two years ago was officially declared dead by a Broward County judge Thursday.
Guma Aguiar, 35, was last seen on his home surveillance video taking a fishing boat out into choppy waters the night of June 19, 2012. His 31-foot long boat surfaced early the next morning off Las Olas Boulevard with the lights and engine still running.
Aguiar's wallet and cell phone were found on board, but no remains of him were ever found, despite search efforts by Fort Lauderdale Police, the Broward Sheriffs Office and the U.S. Coast Guard.
His family members had sought to have him declared dead in order to control his estate, which is estimated to be around $100 million. His mother, Ellen Aguiar, and wife, Jamie, had been locked in lawsuits for control of the fortune.
Aguiar made his fortune in 2006 when the Texas-based energy company he ran with his uncle was sold for a reported $2.5 billion.
