Florida Purple Alert Issued for Missing Man in Fernandina Beach

Authorities search for 47-year-old Shane Connelly last seen in Nassau County coastal town.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:05am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a single car key against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash. The key is the sole focus, with dramatic shadows and highlights emphasizing the metal texture and form, conceptually representing the urgency behind the search for a missing person.A harsh flash-lit close-up of a lone car key highlights the urgency behind the search for a missing person.Fernandina Beach Today

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has issued a statewide Purple Alert for a missing 47-year-old man named Shane Connelly, who was last seen in the coastal town of Fernandina Beach in Nassau County. Connelly is described as a white male with brown hair and blue eyes, standing 6 feet tall and weighing 240 pounds. The Fernandina Beach Police Department is leading the investigation and asking anyone with information to contact them or call 911.

Why it matters

Purple Alerts are issued in Florida for missing adults who may be in danger due to a mental or physical disability, or a combination of disability and circumstance. The alert system is designed to quickly disseminate information to the public in order to aid in the safe recovery of the missing individual.

The details

According to the FDLE flyer, Shane Connelly was last seen in the Fernandina Beach area of Nassau County. Local law enforcement is handling the investigation, with FDLE circulating the Purple Alert information through its statewide Missing Persons Information Clearinghouse. The public is asked to contact the Fernandina Beach Police Department at 904-277-7342 or call 911 if they have any information about Connelly's whereabouts.

  • The Purple Alert was issued on April 17, 2026.

The players

Shane Connelly

A 47-year-old white male with brown hair and blue eyes, standing 6 feet tall and weighing 240 pounds, who was last seen in Fernandina Beach, Florida.

Fernandina Beach Police Department

The local law enforcement agency leading the investigation into the disappearance of Shane Connelly.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)

The state agency that issued the Purple Alert and is circulating information about the missing person through its statewide Missing Persons Information Clearinghouse.

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What’s next

The Fernandina Beach Police Department is continuing to investigate Connelly's disappearance and is asking the public to come forward with any information that could aid in locating him.

The takeaway

This Purple Alert highlights the importance of the statewide system in quickly disseminating information about missing adults who may be in danger, in order to facilitate their safe recovery. The public's assistance in reporting any relevant details is crucial in these types of cases.