Blogs
on August 11, 2025
<br>A New York City family is desperately searching for a teenage boy who jumped from a ferry after posting a haunting final message.
Brandon Pino, 17, had taken to Instagram to write a farewell message to his followers and sent worrying texts to his friends before he jumped off the Staten Island Ferry around 9:45am on Saturday.
He was last seen swimming near Governor's Island by a witness, who reported his fall to the ferry crew as it docked at Manhattan's Whitehall Terminal.
Police search-and-rescue crews descended on the gray waters between Staten Island and the heart of the city, ultimately unable to find the high school senior. The search was called off around 6pm.
But the Pino family hasn't, his sister told the Daily Mail.
'We're all taking turns,' said Cathleen Pino before criticizing the New York Police Department, which she said is just 'waiting for a body to resurface.'
'They're not giving it the importance [it deserves],' the mother-of-two told said.
An NYPD spokesperson told the Daily Mail that its Harbor Unit continues to search for Brandon daily. The department said it also deployed a scuba team, Emergency Services Unit, and aviation unit after the call came in.
Brandon Pino had taken to Instagram to write a farewell message to his followers and sent worrying texts to his friends before he jumped off the Staten Island Ferry around 9:45am on Saturday. Pictured: Brandon (center) with his sister Kierra and brother-in-law Rashad
He was last seen swimming near Governor's Island by a witness who reported to his fall to the ferry crew as it docked at Manhattan's Whitehall Terminal. His body has not been found
Police search and rescue crews descended on the gray waters between Staten Island and the heart of the city for a few hours. Eventually, the search was called off around 6pm. But the Pino family hasn't, said his sister, Cathleen
'The search and investigation remains ongoing,' the spokesperson said.
The Pino family is on foot, on boat, and in cars searching high and low for the teen, desperate for any sign of him as they hold out on hope he survived, Cathleen explained.
So far, they've spent at least $400 on EZ-Pass tolls, as well as on ferry tickets. They've even been looking into chartering a boat to search the waters.
Cathleen insisted that the largest police force in the US isn't giving Brandon's case the 'attention he deserves.'
'He's a person, he's a teen,' said the sister, who lived with Brandon.
'For my brother, it was just a few hours... In the important times, they didn't do what they needed to do.
'We're doing what they should be.'
On Saturday, the Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School senior had visited his uncle around 7am before taking the 9:30am ferry from St. George Ferry Terminal to Manhattan, his sister said.
Leading up to the fall, Cathleen said there were no signs her brother was in distress. The last time she had seen her Brandon was when she picked him up from school. They talked about graduation plans and summer outing they were planning to take. Nothing was abnormal
Brandon's jump came after he posted on Instagram, <a href="https://jetblacktransportation.com/c/faq/what-are-the-available-transportation-options-from-philadelphia-to-jfk-airport/">JetBlack</a>; announcing to his followers that it was 'my last day on earth' and made a post about mental health awareness.
The young teen was also texting a group of friends prior to jumping, worrying them.
Leading up to the leap, Cathleen said there were no signs her brother was in distress.
The last time she had seen Brandon was when she picked him up from school. She had offered to buy him food, but he opted to make some at home as he preferred eating healthy.
They talked about graduation plans and summer outings they were planning to take.
Nothing seemed abnormal.
Now, her <a href="https://www.martindale.com/Results.aspx?ft=2&frm=freesearch&lfd=Y&afs=house%20feels">house feels</a> empty and her two young children keep asking about their uncle.
Cathleen has opted to not tell them about what happened, but they're beginning to ask questions, she revealed.
Cathleen called her brother a very caring and patient person who had dreams of being a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) and planned on going to nursing school
'We holding back tears,' she said. 'It's very hard to hold back tears. We don't have peace.'
The family does not plan to hold a funeral for the young boy until his body is found, per his mother's request.
As for if they believe the teen survived the fall, Cathleen said the tight-knit family is praying he did.
'We have hope,' she said.
The family has started a GoFundMe to help continue their search.
Cathleen called her brother as a very caring and patient person who had dreams of being a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) and planned on going to nursing school.
'He was always very caring,' she said. 'He was a very smart, caring person with an amazing future ahead of him.
'He was loved, so loved.'
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions, please call the National Suicide Hotline at 988.
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