A boat operator, reportedly intoxicated, is facing murder charges after a tragic incident involving a 10-year-old girl. Quinten Kight, the owner of the boat, along with his girlfriend Annemarie Flanigan, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Brooklyn May Carroll. This information comes from court documents.
On August 2, police discovered 39 empty alcohol cans aboard the boat after Kight’s vessel collided with a group of swimmers on Lake Harris, just outside Raleigh, North Carolina. Additionally, around 50 more containers were found in the water, according to prosecutors.
Brooklyn was struck by the boat’s propeller, which tragically led to her death. Another swimmer, Jennifer Stale, sustained severe injuries to her leg that may necessitate an amputation below the knee.
Kight and Flanigan were initially arrested on charges related to felony deaths from boat mishandling before the more serious murder charges were filed. The family of Brooklyn has expressed gratitude toward investigators and the community but has chosen not to comment further on the escalated charges.
“We miss Brooklyn more than words can describe. We’ll keep looking for ways to honor her life and the joy she brought to many,” they shared.
According to prosecutors, Kight, Flanigan, and eight others aboard the boat were distracted, looking at a wakeboard when they struck the swimmers.
Kight appeared to be intoxicated when police arrived, exhibiting glassy eyes and slurred speech. Authorities initially attempted to administer a sobriety test, but officers deemed Kight unable to follow instructions at that moment, and they are currently awaiting blood test results.
Flanigan reportedly misled police, claiming she was not on the boat and had arrived after the collision. Furthermore, during her hearing, it was mentioned that she wrote a misleading statement regarding her presence at the scene of the incident.
Prosecutors argued that she should have recognized Kight’s intoxication, noting that consumption was evident in front of her.
Both Kight and Flanigan are currently being held on bonds of $1,000,000 each.
