Prosecutors Didn’t Talk to Eyewitness Before Filing Misdemeanor Charges in Deadly Boat Crash
In a tragic incident that has raised serious questions about the judicial process and law enforcement's attention to critical details, it has come to light that the police and prosecutors associated with the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office did not engage with a crucial eyewitness before filing misdemeanor charges against George Pino, the captain involved in a deadly boat crash in Biscayne Bay. This harrowing incident unfolded on September 4, 2022, during which a 29-foot Robalo center console boat, piloted by Doral real estate broker George Pino, collided with a concrete channel marker, resulting in the tragic death of 17-year-old Luciana ‘Lucy’ Fernandez and leaving another classmate severely injured.
The sequence of events that led to this tragedy began on a calm and clear Labor Day weekend. Pino, age 53, testified to investigators that he had swerved to avoid another vessel, which he claimed was responsible for causing the accident. However, this assertion is disputed by Thomas Watson, an off-duty yacht captain traveling behind Pino, who stated— unequivocally— that no other boat was present at the time of the crash. Watson, who arrived at the scene shortly after the incident occurred, expressed his frustration that neither the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) nor the State Attorney’s Office pursued his statement or sought further information from him prior to the filing of charges against Pino.
In the aftermath of the collision, eyewitness accounts are paramount. Watson, who, along with his wife, Melinda—a registered nurse—attempted to render immediate assistance to the injured, reported the chaos he encountered when he emerged from his own vessel. “It was like a bomb went off out there,” Watson recalled, describing the debris littering the water. His observations, critical to determining the facts surrounding the event, were inexplicably overlooked in the initial investigation.
The repercussions of this oversight are far-reaching. The crash not only claimed the life of a promising young girl but also left another teenager—Katerina Puig—suffering from severe head trauma, resulting in lifelong disabilities. The incident occurred during what should have been a celebratory day, marking the 18th birthday of Cecilia Pino, George's daughter, which only deepens the tragedy for the Fernandez family, who are now seeking justice and answers.
As legal protocols dictate, gathering eyewitness testimony plays an essential role in building a case, particularly in instances where lives are lost. The apparent lack of proactive engagement by those involved in the investigation raises serious concerns about their commitment to pursuing justice. Initially, the prosecutors filed three misdemeanor counts of careless boating against Pino without having properly fact-checked his narrative against eyewitness testimony—a significant legal lapse.
The fact that nearly two years elapsed without contact from the authorities left Watson bewildered. “We were sitting around for a while waiting for the phone to ring from someone,” he said, revealing his expectation that law enforcement would seek his account of events. Such neglect is alarming, especially given the gravity of the incident and the resulting loss of life.
It wasn't until summer 2023 that prosecutors finally decided to reach out to Watson, primarily motivated by a family friend and attorney, Joel Denaro, who had been advocating for a fuller examination of the facts. Denaro’s investigation led him to Watson after viewing body camera footage from the night of the crash, which showed Watson providing his contact details to the officers present at the scene. This effort illustrates the proactive measures that private citizens and family friends must sometimes undertake when the justice system appears to stall.
Upon finally making contact, Watson reiterated to prosecutors that he did not witness any other boat involved in the crash, a statement reinforced by multiple accounts from passengers on Pino’s own vessel. The consensus among witnesses indicated that Pino failed to take any evasive action prior to the collision—contradicting his assertions of having maneuvered to avoid another vessel. An analysis of GPS data from Pino’s boat corroborated these witness statements, showing no sudden changes in direction as Pino had claimed.
Further complicating matters, investigators discovered a staggering amount of over 60 empty alcoholic beverage containers aboard Pino’s vessel after the crash. Despite this evidence, the FWC ruled out alcohol as a contributing factor to the collision, stating that Pino did not display signs of impairment during their interactions. Pino later claimed that he had consumed “two beers” that day, a statement that contradicts the evidence collected by law enforcement.
The inaction surrounding critical eyewitness testimony and the failure to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the crash has led to calls from the Fernandez family and their legal representation to reopen the case. Denaro has urged the authorities to consider Watson’s sworn statement alongside footage from a nearby migrant-tracking camera, which could further substantiate eyewitness accounts indicating no other vessels were present during the accident.
The current prosecutors' office, under the leadership of Katherine Fernandez Rundle, has remained paradoxically silent regarding the possibility of reopening the case or addressing why they failed to contact Watson earlier in the investigation. The lack of transparency and responsiveness from the state attorney’s office has understandably aggravated the families affected by this tragedy, who continue to demand answers and justice.
As the Fernandez family mourns the loss of their daughter, they have expressed disappointment that the initial findings dismissed critical evidence too swiftly while labeling Pino as merely careless rather than culpable in a fatal crash. The continued insistence that another vessel—or even other factors—played a role in Lucy’s death not only perpetuates confusion around what happened that day but also obstructs the family’s capacity to achieve closure.
Legal experts have weighed in on the implications of failing to follow up on crucial eyewitnesses in cases of such significant consequences. Richard Klugh, a criminal defense attorney, and Phil Reizenstein, a former Miami prosecutor, both noted that this failure reflects an alarming disconnect within law enforcement procedures. They emphasized the need for an apology to the victims’ families and a renewed commitment to ensuring a thorough investigation that seeks every available piece of evidence before drawing conclusions.
The Fernandez family continues to advocate for justice in Lucy's name, calling for an in-depth review of the initial investigation and the subsequent decision-making processes that led to the charges filed against Pino. The dynamic nature of the case, with the possibility of reopening investigations and further charges based on the evidence now unfolding, could allow the legal system to better serve the interests of justice—a pivotal goal for all involved as they navigate the complexities surrounding this tragic maritime incident in Biscayne Bay.