Body found in Bay confirmed to be Chris Parker

Eight days after he disappeared in a speed boat accident, Chris Parker's body has been found.Parker is the 37-year-old co-founder of the Bonefish Grill restaurant chain.Investigators say two boaters found the body just before 1:30 p.m. Monday, east of the St. Petersburg Pier. Boater Mike Bruno was one of the boaters who made the discovery. He's says he had been watching the news daily hoping to hear that Parker's body had been found. Bruno owns a 24-foot fishing boat manufactured by Spectre, the same company that built Parker's 36-foot speed boat. That boat crashed last Sunday killing Parker and injuring two women.Sunday more than a dozen friends of Parker searched the bay for his body. Bruno says he was helping a friend transport a 68-foot boat Monday when he spotted the body. He hopes the discovery will bring closure to Parker's family and friends.The restaurant chain Parker co-founded is now owned by Outback Steakhouse, Inc. In a statement Outback co-founder Bob Basham says, “...all of us are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and partner…Chris' entrepreneurial spirit, work ethic, commitment to people and absolute passion for restaurant operations were the foundations for Bonefish Grill's success..."Saturday, Parker's friends and family held a memorial service in St. Petersburg.