Attorney for boater ID'd as man who fatally struck 15-year-old Ella Adler speaks out
MIAMI - The man authorities say was the boat operator who struck a teen girl in Biscayne Bay on Saturday insists he had no idea it happened until police showed up asking questions.
That's according to Carlos Guillermo Alonso's attorney, Lauren Field Krasnoff. She also says there's doubt about his involvement.
On Wednesday, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission identified 78-year-old Alonso as the boat operator who struck 15-year-old Ella Adler while she was wakeboarding.
Field Krasnoff faced the media on Wednesday. Here's what she had to say:
"So first and foremost, let me say that this is the worst possible tragedy that anyone could imagine. We are devastated for the Adlers for their friends for their family, there is no question in our minds, that this is an absolutely horrific thing that happened."
"And then think of their family and their friends during this time. I know that there are people that want to hear from Carlos Alonso, from Bill, as I know him, he's not going to make a statement right now. This is an ongoing investigation. And so we've advised him that at this time, we'll make the statement for him."
"And we're happy to speak about what we know about this awful, awful and tragic accident. I can tell you that Bill has been boating for 50 years. He's an experienced boater. He was boating by himself on Saturday. If he was the person that was involved in this accident, and I want to be clear, we don't know that yet. If he was he had absolutely no idea of his involvement."
"When the police came knocking, he did not know why. We're not sure if he was involved. But if he was he absolutely did not know what had happened. He docked his boat in plain sight. And most importantly, he's been cooperative with law enforcement and with anybody that has a need to need it to investigate what happened on the water that day."
"He is a 78-year-old man, he came from Cuba on Operation Peter Pan, he has had no contact with the criminal system. He does not drink and he was not drinking on that Saturday."
"He's a good man, and he is devastated by what has happened. We're going to keep that statement. That will be the end of the statement for now. The investigation is ongoing. And Bill will continue to cooperate with law enforcement."
Officials said Wednesday that Alonso was the only occupant of the vessel on that day, according to the one-page incident report.
FWC24ON0038760_updated-2 by sergio.candido on Scribd
The boat was discovered behind a home in the Hammocks Oaks neighborhood in Coral Gables. Neighbors described the Alonso as a family man and an experienced boater. They said he was devastated by what happened.
Rodney Barreto, the Chairman of the FWC, said this about Ella's death, "It's touched our community in a way. When you're 15 years old you don't expect to go out on a boat and not come home."
The new preliminary FWC report says she had been on a boat with 12 other people and was being towed while on a wakeboard.
Records show Alonso owns the house where the vessel was seized.
"The gentleman who was driving the boat who is cooperating with us is Mr. Alonso," said Barreto. "We have some physical evidence that we have recovered that we have sent to our state lab for testing."
Barreto says officers used witness descriptions to find the boat.
"It was good old-fashioned police work by our officers. We asked them to go up and down the canals from Coconut Grove to South Miami. They went up and down the canals with the physical description they had and recognized the boat."
Batteto said there was no evidence pointing to reckless or drunk driving.
It's not known if Alonso will be cited or charged.
"Our job is to gather information and present it to the State Attorney, so they can do their job," said Barreto.
The loss of Adler prompts this warning from Barreto.
"Make sure you pay attention to the water and always look around because things can happen on the water and they can happen very quickly," he said. "We encourage people to use a lot of caution and go to boating safety schools. Florida has the most registered boats in the country and Miami-Dade has the most registered boats than any county in Florida."
Ella, the granddaughter of US Ambassador to Belgium Michael M. Adler, was water skiing with friends Saturday near the Nixon Beach sandbar when she fell in the water while being towed and was struck by another boat. The operator of that boat never stopped.
An all out search was then launched to find the boat and driver.
On Wednesday, Florida Fish and Wildlife said they believed they had found it.
"I am pleased to report that we have a vessel in custody that matches the description given by witnesses," said FWC's George Reynaud. "The boat is in our custody and the owner is cooperating with us."
On Monday morning, hundreds of people attended services for Adler at Temple Beth Sholom in Miami Beach.
On Tuesday, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden stopped by in person to offer her condolences and be with the family.
"We are honored that the First Lady paid a shiva call to our family during this time of immense pain. We are touched by their support and love and we are proud to call the President and First Lady our friends for over 40 years," according to a statement from the family.
Adler was a freshman at Ransom Everglades High School and a ballerina with the Miami City Ballet.
"We are heartbroken," Ransom Everglades posted on Facebook. "Ella Adler '27 shined in our classrooms and on our stages, and she embodied the mission of Ransom Everglades School. We wish peace and comfort to her family."
"We at Miami City Ballet and the Miami City Ballet School are utterly devastated by the heartbreaking news of this tragic accident," said the organization which described Adler as a beloved student and a magnificent dancer who graced their stage. "Our hearts go out to Ella's family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing and adoring her. As we come together, we will profoundly grieve the loss of Ella, and hold dear the precious memories we were fortunate enough to create with her."
"We extend our deepest condolences to the Adler family at this difficult time," the US Embassy to Belgium said in a statement. "Out of respect for their privacy, we have nothing further."
Anyone who saw the accident or anyone who might have video footage or information about it is urged to call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).