RedactedNarrative: Synopsis
  On September 19, 2015 at approximately 9:00 pm I, Investigator of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), received a call from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) that there was a vessel accident at the end of the Lake Hatchineha Canal at BS Hill. The victim was air lifted and admitted to Osceola Regional Medical Center. My investigation revealed that the operator was her husband Operator. Charges were direct filed on Operator for operating a vessel with normal faculties impaired, violation of navigational rule resulting in an accident, violation of nav rule 5 improper lookout, and nav rule 6 unsafe speed, reckless operation of a vessel, providing a false statement to law enforcement, and interference with an investigation. 
   
  I observed that Victim was lying in an area that was all dirt and no grass, and that she had dirt on her clothes and skin. I observed that Operator had dirt on his right side and a mark on his forehead consistent with where a head lamp would have been. Head lamps of that style are commonly worn by air boat operators to navigate their path of travel.
  
  An OCSO deputy walked over with a subject and advised me that he claimed to be the operator of the vessel. I observed that Subject1 was clean and dry and did not have any dirt on his clothes like the other occupants did. When I asked him questions about what had occurred, he appeared to search for answers. The answers he provided were vague and uncertain.
   
  I read Subject1 Miranda from a prepared text, post Miranda Subject1 stated:
   
  • He was the operator of the vessel
  • He didn’t see the hole they hit
  • He was operating Operator’s vessel just to check it out
  • He was not sure where the other occupants were sitting on the vessel
  • That they were just going for a quick ride 
  • That he and his wife just arrived and Operator and his wife were already there
  • That his vessel was there too
  • That his wife was going to follow him on their air boat 
  • That it happened so fast he wasn’t sure how he landed when the vessel flipped
   
  I interviewed Operator, the registered owner of the vessel, who appeared to be nervous and fidgety as he spoke to me. While speaking with me he constantly looked at the ground and would not look at me. His eyes were glassy and bloodshot. He appeared to be unstable on his feet. He had slurred speech and swayed back and forth while talking to me.
   
  I read Operator Miranda from a prepared text, post Miranda Operator stated:
  • He was not driving the boat
  • He let Subject1 drive the boat
  • That Subject1 was going to drive them back to the boat ramp and then drive them home
  • That Subject1 had driven them the whole night
  • That he and Subject1 had been hanging out there at BS Hill for a couple hours
  • He is unsure where Subject1 landed when the boat came to rest
  • That Subject1 must have not gotten ejected 
   
  I then spoke to Subject1 again and explained to him that stories were not adding up, and that I believed Operator was operating the vessel and not him. I explained to Subject1 that based on my training and experience and the evidence gathered so far showed Operator being the operator of the vessel. It further appeared that he (Subject1) appeared to be lying to protect his friend (Operator) because Operator was impaired and he didn’t want him to get in trouble. Subject1 shoulders sank and he shook his head yes. 
   
  Subject1 stated:
  • That he had never been in any trouble and respected law enforcement 
  • That I was correct and he did not mean to cause any trouble he was just looking out for a friend
  • He was sorry for not telling me the truth
  • That he had not driven Operator’s vessel at all
  • That he had just pulled up to the hill and looked over to see Operator’s vessel upside down
  • That he exited his vessel and ran to help
  • That he helped flip the boat back over and helped lift the vessel off
   