WASHINGTON (AP) - The brother of the reigning Miss District of Columbia is one of the 12 Marines missing after two helicopters crashed off Hawaii.
Rescuers have been searching for 22-year-old Cpl. Thomas Jardas of Fort Myers, Florida, since the crash late Thursday. None of the missing Marines have been found.
Jardas is the younger brother of Haley Jardas, who represented the District in last year's Miss America pageant.
The Miss D.C. Organization says in a statement that its thoughts and prayers are with Jardas and her family. Miss D.C. executive director Tricia Lloyd says Jardas flew home to Florida on Saturday to be with her family. The organization is asking that Jardas' privacy be respected.
