Charges refiled in Missouri duck boat tour sinking that killed 17, including Illinoisans

The automobile, generally known as a duck boat, sank throughout a storm shortly after it entered Desk Rock Lake close to Branson on July 19, 2018. Riders from Missouri, Indiana, Illinois and Arkansas had been killed. Fourteen folks survived.

On April 5, Stone County Choose Alan Blankenship dismissed first-degree involuntary manslaughter fees towards Kenneth Scott McKee, 54, the captain of the boat; Curtis P. Lanham, 39, the overall supervisor at Journey the Geese in Branson; and Charles V. Baltzell, 79, the operations supervisor who was a supervisor on responsibility when the boat sank.

Two days later, Schmitt refiled 17 involuntary manslaughter fees towards every of the lads. McKee additionally faces 12 counts of endangering the welfare of a kid.

“As I’ve mentioned beforehand, my Workplace is dedicated to combating for justice on behalf of the 17 those that had been tragically killed in 2018 – that is why we re-filed the fees on this case,” Schmitt mentioned in an announcement Wednesday.

SEE MORE: Missouri decide dismisses fees for duck boat tragedy by which Illinoisans amongst 17 killed

Prosecutors mentioned the vacationer boat went into the lake regardless of warnings of storms within the space. The boat sank after it was swamped by waves attributable to the winds.

Attorneys for the three defendants have argued that the lads weren’t conscious of the severity of the storm and didn’t deliberately put their passengers in peril. When he dismissed the fees, Blankenship mentioned there was no proof the lads knew concerning the sturdy winds related to the storm.

When the felony fees had been filed final 12 months, an affidavit from an investigator mentioned McKee ignored considerations about an approaching storm when he took the boat onto the lake. Lanham and Baltzell had been accused of failing to speak climate circumstances and to cease operations after a extreme thunderstorm warning was issued.

The duck boats, which function on land and water, had been a longtime widespread attraction within the vacationer city of Branson. The trip closed down after the tragedy and the boats haven’t returned to the lake.

The video within the participant above is from an earlier report.