Search for Two Teens Continues After Boat Found Capsized
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is still considered an active search and rescue case. We continue optimism we are going to find them.</s>MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Those are words of hope from the coast guard as crews now move into day three searching for two missing 14- year-old boys. They haven't been seen since they went out on a fishing trip Friday. Sunday, the coast guard found sadly, their boat capsized. No sign of Perry Cohen or his friend Austin Stephanos. Joining us now, Perry's mother, Pamela Cohen, his stepfather Nick Korniloff and their neighbor, close friend great, Joe Namath. I have to start with you, Pamela. This is a mom's worst nightmare, how are you doing, love?</s>PAMELA COHEN, PERRY COHEN'S MOTHER: None of us are giving up hope. They are going to find those boys. So obviously, it's a terrifying experience to be living through.</s>PEREIRA: Yes.</s>COHEN: Second by second but, I have 100 percent faith that they will find our boys.</s>PEREIRA: Nick, what gives you guys such optimism. That you know a lot about these young men. You know they are avid fishermen, you know they love the ocean. What gives you this optimism?</s>NICK KORNILOFF, STEPFATHER OF PERRY COHEN: I know how they have been brought up. I know that we have trained them correctly. We have teaches them the respect of mother nature, the power of the sea. We spent many times, both families, we are people of the water. I grew up on the water. Not on the water, but a lot of time boating. I passed that on to my children. The family across the street, Austin's family they are boaters. We've raised these kids right, they know what the water is all about. This is a very difficult situation. The optimism comes from the faith that we have that they are strong kids and they are survivors.</s>PEREIRA: Strong boaters. They grew up around the water. Familiar with boating and the marine world. And I understand that you as parents and the parents across the street also had restrictions on what the boys were allowed to do, the parameters of where they could go. Give us an idea of that. What were they allowed to do on the water?</s>KORNILOFF: I can only speak for our son. We requested when he was out in the water, he fish the river and inner coastal. He could go as far as the rocks and inland. Not without us or an adult who had, you know, a larger boat, into the ocean. But, in saying that, knowing Austin and knowing his skills and his family, Austin is extremely capable running those boats. That was a rule we had in our house.</s>PEREIRA: So what does it tell you then, Pamela? Do you think something happened? They run encountered a little difficulty? Was a little of a trek of 14-year-old rebellion? We have all been 14. What do you think this speaks to of what happened?</s>COHEN: I don't know what happened. None of us know what happened. If we did, I think we would have them in our arms right now. I can only speak for myself, obviously we have all done things that have different consequences than what we expected. They are 14-year-old boys, so, when they want to go and do something and there's no one watching, sometimes I think they all do something, whether it's my child or anyone else watching. You can't control that. We can't keep them under our eye every moment of every day. We raised them right. We hope that they will make the right decisions. I do believe they have the knowledge and the strength to get them through this.</s>KORNILOFF: I think our bigger message here is these boys are still out there. People up and down the coast of Florida, whether it's south or further north, from here in Jupiter need to be on the lookout for our boys. The coast guard is doing everything they can. Anybody out there who wants to judge and look back, they can do that. We know who our children are. People who live on the water know what it is all about.</s>PEREIRA: Mother nature is a force. We know that. We certainly do.</s>KORNILOFF: That is correct.</s>PEREIRA: That's a focus right now, the search and Joe, I know you, as a neighbor, as a concerned community resident and friend of these families, you have joined the effort here and I understand there's now a reward, $100,000 reward that's been set up. Tell us why that's necessary. There's been a great deal of support in spreading the word about this case. Why do you think the reward was necessary, Joe?</s>JOE NAMATH, NEIGHBOR OF PERRY COHEN: I'm not going there. I'm going to tell you something. We are optimistic, we are praying. The coast guard is wonderful. The people that are conducting the search are optimistic. The history of the high sea shows survival rates over the years. There have been miracles out there and we are planning on finding the children.</s>PEREIRA: Yep, we love that idea. We love that thought. We believe in miracles as well here. Why don't you tell us more about these young men so we can know about their resilient spirit, Pam.</s>NAMATH: I have known these kids since they were very young. The last seven years with Perry and Austin since he was about 10 years. They are two fine young fellas. They got caught in something we are not sure about. They are very knowledgeable about the high seas and how to conduct themselves. Let's keep praying. The coast guard is going to keep on searching.</s>PEREIRA: They are. And so what is the plan today? I imagine as soon as night lifted and light came out, the search crews were out there. Nick, Pamela, tell us about what you are seeing out there.</s>KORNILOFF: Well, the search crews have been going all night. We have been in constant contact with district seven out of Miami in the Coast Guard. The homeland security, they using every asset they have. They are committed to finding our boys and keeping us optimistic. They are reporting in everything they need to do. Florida fish and wildlife are out there doing searches. People from the public are out there. Once again, it's about keeping our eyes out for the boys. Everybody walking the beach, please look. Look for anything you may find on the beach. Every little thing counts here. Every piece of information. The coast guard is running their models on drifts where they found the boat and trying to continue to zone in on where our kids are.</s>PEREIRA: We know, one thing I know about the boating community is they are very helpful in situations like this. I know these boys, people are on the lookout for them. Our prayers are with you. We are going to keep optimism alive. Pamela, Nick and Joe, thank you for joining us today.</s>COHEN: Thank you. Donald Trump turning a different story here. Topping a new CNN poll, what is it about him? We are going to talk to his supporters, next.