Divers found dead in sinkhole identified

[Brendan Fitterer | Times]

The two divers found dead in a Hudson sinkhole near Old Dixie Highway yesterday have been identified by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said Joseph Christian Hartranft, 52, of 1504 Scotch Pine Drive in Brandon, and Yessic Cozay Spencer, 42, of 2026 NW 27th Terr. in Gainesville, were reported missing to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office two days ago. Spencer was a Marine lieutenant colonel stationed at MacDill Air Force Base and a diving instructor.

Hartranft's Land Rover was found by Pasco sheriff's deputies at School Sink on Wednesday afternoon. The two men's bodies were found shortly thereafter, deputies said.

According to his son, also named Joseph, Hartranft threw himself into scuba diving after retiring from the Navy in 1995, where he served as a communications specialist. 

Spencer's father, Yessic Spencer Jr. of North Carolina, said he last spoke to his son on the phone a week ago.

"He was cheerful," the elder Spencer said. "He was always in a good mood. He had his head screwed on right."

He said Spencer III was a diving instructor in Tampa, and he also had a black belt in karate.

But above all, Spencer was a family man, his dad said. His wife, Sherolyn, and two kids, 13-year-old Yvonne and 9-year-old Yessic IV, were his life.

A cause of death has not been determined, and an investigation continues.

Times Staff

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