The attorney for Carlos Alonso, known as Bill, who is linked to a boating accident that resulted in the death of 15-year-old Ella Adler, has publicly expressed their client’s deep sorrow over the incident.
The accident occurred over the weekend during what was meant to be a birthday celebration on the water. Attorney Lauren Field Krassnoff, representing Alonso, said her client is “absolutely devastated by the tragedy,” shortly after Alonso arrived home with his legal representation.
“We want to express our deepest sympathies to Ella Adler’s family and friends,” she said. “Bill is an experienced boater. He was out on the water alone that day. He had no idea that an accident had occurred, much less that he might have been involved. If Bill hit anything, let alone a person, he absolutely would have stopped, but he had no knowledge of the accident until law enforcement came knocking at his door.”
The boat involved in the incident was removed from behind Alonso’s Coral Gables home on Tuesday, with Alonso identified as the owner and operator o the vessel. No charged have been filed against him as of now.
Adler was wake-boarding in Biscayne Bay when the accident happened. Investigators reported that after Adler and another girl fell into the water, the boat towing them turned around to retrieve them. during this time, it is alleged that Alonso’s boat struck Adler and then left the scene.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has noted that Alonso is cooperating with their investigation.
Melissa White, the mother of one of the teens who witnessed what happened, appeared at the Key Biscayne Council Meeting on Tuesday to thank members of the community for their support.
“My daughter, Caitlyn, was on the boat. I’m here to say thank you,” said White. “The Adler family, their lives are forever changed. But those girls that had to witness it, my hope is that they go forward and they continue to make Ella’s memory a blessing.”
The local community, including students from Ransom Everglades has shown support, memorializing Adler with painted ballerinas, purple hearts and heartfelt messages on a campus cannon, all dedicated to the young life cut short.
The investigation into the incident continues, with authorities still determining the full circumstances of the accident.
FWC investigators urge anyone with information or video footage related to the incident to contact the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).
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