Duck boat probe headed to feds. Coast Guard points to possible criminal activity

The U.S. Coast Guard has referred the July 19 sinking of a Branson duck boat to federal investigators to pursue a possible criminal case.

A spokeswoman for the Coast Guard confirmed that the agency referred the case Aug. 13 to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri. That office, based in Kansas City, includes the Table Rock Lake area where the boat sank, killing 17.

“During the course of the initial part of our investigation, the fact finding part, we identified stuff that could point to some sort of criminal activity,” said Alana Miller, a Coast Guard spokeswoman. “And we are not in the business of criminal investigations.”

Miller would not elaborate on what that potential criminal activity may be. She did say that the Marine Board of Investigation and the Coast Guard Investigative Service division consulted with its legal department before the incident was referred.

Read more: https://www.kansas.com/news/nation-world/national/article217073595.html