Florida wildlife officers release new images of boat tied to fatal Biscayne Bay hit-and-run investigation
New evidentiary images made public more than a year after teen’s death
Florida wildlife officers have released additional photographs and video materials connected to the investigation into a fatal hit-and-run boating crash in Biscayne Bay that killed 15-year-old Ella Adler in 2024. The newly public evidence includes images gathered during the investigative process and interview footage taken on the day of the incident, as investigators continue to document how the collision unfolded and who bears responsibility under maritime navigation rules.
The case centers on a May 2024 crash near Key Biscayne. Adler was wakeboarding behind a 42-foot boat when she fell into the water. Before the towing vessel could return to retrieve her, another boat struck her and left the area without stopping, resulting in fatal injuries.
How investigators identified the vessel
In the initial hours after the crash, investigators circulated a description based on witness accounts: a center-console boat with a light blue hull, multiple white outboard engines, and blue bottom paint. The description became a focal point for canvassing marinas and waterfront neighborhoods in Miami-Dade County.
Investigators later located a Boston Whaler matching that description docked behind a Coral Gables residence. The operator tied to that vessel, Carlos Guillermo Alonso, 79, has faced misdemeanor charges alleging violations of U.S. Coast Guard navigation rules. A separate operator, Edmund Richard Hartley, 31, who was operating the vessel towing Adler, has also faced misdemeanor charges alleging violations of navigation rules. Both have pleaded not guilty.
What the newly released material shows
The newly released evidence includes photos tied to evidence-gathering after the crash and surveillance-style video of interviews conducted with boaters that day. Among the images are photographs depicting damage and other physical traces collected during the investigation, including an image of Adler’s life jacket and additional scene-related visuals used to help reconstruct the sequence of events.
The public release of investigative imagery is typically used to clarify timelines, corroborate witness accounts, and document the condition of vessels and equipment central to collision analysis.
Broader safety and enforcement context in Biscayne Bay
Biscayne Bay is among South Florida’s busiest recreational waterways, with high weekend traffic and frequent overlap between towed-water sports, fishing boats, and transiting vessels. Investigations of collisions in such settings often hinge on speed, lookout practices, right-of-way decisions, and whether operators took required actions to avoid danger or render aid after a crash.
The crash remains a key case study for the importance of maintaining a proper lookout near popular tow-sport areas.
Investigators have emphasized vessel identification details—hull color, engine configuration, and paint—to connect witness observations to specific boats.
The legal proceedings are centered on alleged navigational-rule violations rather than felony charges, reflecting how boating cases are often charged under maritime safety standards.
The investigation and related court process continue, with the released materials adding to the evidentiary record as authorities work to establish the precise actions of each operator in the moments leading up to the fatal strike.