Former Dive Boat Captain Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Seaman’s Manslaughter
LOS ANGELES — In a landmark decision, a federal judge handed down a four-year prison sentence to Jerry Nehl Boylan, the former dive boat captain convicted of negligence in the tragic fire that claimed the lives of 34 individuals back in 2019. Boylan, facing a potential sentence of up to 10 years, was found guilty in 2023 of a federal felony count of misconduct or neglect of a ship officer.
The devastating fire broke out on Labor Day morning while the boat, The Conception, was anchored near Santa Cruz Island, California. The inferno, which resulted in 33 passengers and one crew member losing their lives to smoke inhalation, marked one of the deadliest maritime accidents in decades.
Prosecutors revealed that Boylan, 70, failed to take adequate measures to combat the fire, rescue passengers, conduct proper fire drills, or provide crew training. The absence of a night watch further exacerbated the catastrophic outcome.
US Attorney Martin Estrada expressed disappointment in Boylan’s actions, emphasizing that proper training and vigilance could have averted the tragedy. Despite the verdict bringing some closure to the victims’ families, many, like Susana Solano Rosas, whose three daughters perished in the fire, felt the sentencing fell short of justice.
While CNN reached out to Boylan’s attorney for a response, no comment has been received. In 2019, an attorney for the boat’s owner, Truth Aquatics, mentioned that a crew member had inspected the area where the fire originated before it erupted.
While investigations pointed towards cell phones and batteries left charging overnight as potential causes of the fire, the exact source remains inconclusive. The National Transportation Safety Board acknowledged the challenges in pinpointing a definitive cause. — CNN
