Coast Guard releases boy rescue video

ST. PETERSBURG - The U.S. Coast Guard released video of the Gulf of Mexico rescue of a 3-year-old boy investigators say was kidnapped by his father.

Crewmembers aboard a Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Hercules aircraft spotted Paul Martikainen's 32-foot sailboat Monday at about 5 p.m. after reports he abducted his son Luke Finch during a planned visit over the weekend.

<< Click on the video player to the left to watch the Coast Guard rescue video.

An alert was issued for the Cocoa boy after the pair disappeared, and witnesses reported seeing them sailing from Salt Creek Marina in St. Petersburg Saturday afternoon where Martikainen's SUV was found.

Crewmembers from the Cutter Crocodile and Cutter Kodiak Island boarded the sailboat Tuesday about 7:15 a.m. They rescued Luke, and took him aboard the Crocodile.

"We are incredibly happy that we were able to find and rescue Luke unharmed to reunite him with his family," said Capt. Timothy Close, Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg commander.

The sailboat was 140 miles offshore and heading south when it was intercepted, but Coast Guard officials do not know where Martikainen was headed or what his intentions were.

The crew of the Kodiak Island detained Martikainen and towed the sailboat to Fort Myers Beach.  Martikainen was taken into FBI custody.

Martikainen appeared in a federal courtroom in Fort Myers this morning. It's unclear when he'll be transferred to Orlando.

If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison and a $250,000 in fines.