John Alley believed found

Monday morning a plea went out to the public attending a Memorial Day Service in downtown Milton for help in locating a missing serviceman from NAS Whiting Field.

Later that afternoon the family and friends of Second Lt. John Alley got some news, but it wasn’t the news they were holding out hope for.

Pensacola Police believe a 16-year-old male who was fishing and walking along the shoreline discovered the body of Alley in Escambia Bay Monday morning.

An autopsy is being done to determine positive identification and the cause of death, according to a release issued by the Pensacola Police Department.

“It’s a sad situation and we’ve been in contact with the family and the base command,” said Assistant Chief Chip W. Simmons. “We’re left with a lot of questions and are doing our best to try and answer them.

Alley, 26 of Milton, was last seen at Whiting Field on Friday wearing a green pilot flight suit.

Saturday morning Alley’s car was found totaled on Scenic Highway after it has been involved in a single car accident.

Alley was believed to have been southbound on Scenic Highway Saturday morning when his car crossed the centerlines and hit a guardrail, according to a release from the PPD.

Pensacola Police were initially notified of the crash around 5:30 a.m. Saturday after Alley’s locked 1996 Toyota Corolla was found abandoned on Scenic Highway.

According to Sgt. Mike Simmons the body was found in the water around 11:30 a.m. Monday about one-half mile north of Summit Drive.

There was no word on when the autopsy would be completed and a positive identification made.

The teen that found the body ran and notified some nearby searchers who have been working with police in trying to find the Second Lieutenant stationed at Whiting Field.