MIAMI — Loved ones of the victims killed and seriously injured in the 2022 boat crash involving prominent real estate broker George Pino are expressing their disappointment after Pino was found not guilty on all charges Monday.
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Pino, 55, was acquitted of manslaughter and vessel homicide.
Prosecutors accused Pino, then 52, of being reckless when he lost control of his 29-foot Robalo boat in the early evening hours of Sept. 4, 2022 and slammed it into a channel marker near Boca Chita Key, killing 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez. Two other girls were seriously hurt, including then-17-year-old Katerina “Katy” Puig, who was left permanently disabled.
“The Puig family is deeply disappointed by today’s verdict, and our hearts hurt for the Fernandez family, who continue to live every day with the unimaginable loss of Lucy,” the Puig family said in a statement. “For nearly four years, our family has lived with the consequences of that tragic day. We see Katy’s injuries every day. We see the challenges she continues to face, the strength she demonstrates in overcoming them, and the impact this tragedy has had on her life and the lives of those who love her. No verdict can change those realities.”
Fernandez and Puig were among a group of teenage girls who were onboard Pino’s boat to celebrate his daughter’s 18th birthday.
Prosecutors argued in closing arguments Monday that Pino was reckless and that there was no reason for him to crash his boat.
“He was reckless and negligent,” Assistant State Attorney Laura Adams said. “No one but this defendant decided the speed or path or direction of travel. No one and nothing is responsible for the death of Lucy Fernandez except that man.”
They pointed out that while it was not a BUI case, alcohol was part of the story that afternoon.
“He was going full throttle!” Adams argued. “With all these teens on board that had consumed alcohol.”
Pino’s defense team, however, argued the crash was a horrible accident and not the result of negligence.
“It’s not enough that a human failed to do everything they could in a moment in time,” attorney Howard Srebnick said. “It requires a purposeful act of indifference to his passengers.”
The Puig family, in their statement, thanked the prosecutors for their hard work and said they believed the investigation had been compromised from the beginning.
“We have long believed that this case was compromised from the very beginning by critical investigative failures on the day of the accident,” the Puig family said. “George Pino was not administered a sobriety test, nor was a blood sample obtained. As a result, evidence that should have been available in a fatal boating accident investigation was lost forever. That failure deprived the prosecutors, the jury, and ultimately the public of information that may have helped provide a more complete picture of what occurred.”
The Lucy Fernandez Foundation also released a statement, remembering Fernandez as a person who “touched countless lives and left an impact that continues to be felt by all who knew her.”
“The loss of her life is one that her family, friends and community will carry forever, and no verdict can change that reality or lessen the love people continue to have for her,” the statement continued.
The Pino family, said in a statement, that they were grateful to the jurors for their decision and that they “continue to mourn the loss of Lucy Fernandez every day and to pray for all those who were affected by this maritime mishap.”
Full statements from the Lucy Fernandez Foundation, the Puig family and the Pino family can be read in full below:
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The Lucy Fernandez Foundation:
“While the legal proceedings have concluded, our focus remains where it has always been: on Lucy.
“Throughout this process, Lucy was often discussed as evidence in a case. But to those who knew and loved her, she was so much more. She was a beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter, cousin and friend. She was funny, kind, full of life and had her entire future ahead of her.
“Though her life was far too short, Lucy touched countless lives and left an impact that continues to be felt by all who knew her. The loss of her life is one that her family, friends and community will carry forever, and no verdict can change that reality or lessen the love people continue to have for her.
“Throughout the court proceedings, one thing became abundantly clear: far too many people who operate boats do not fully understand the responsibilities, risks and laws associated with being on the water. That reality should concern us all.
“The mission of the Lucy Fernandez Foundation has never been about a courtroom. It’s about honoring Lucy’s life through education, awareness and advocacy, and we remain committed to promoting boating safety, encouraging responsible operation and helping people better understand the responsibilities that come with being on the water. Our goal is simple: to make Lucy’s favorite pastime safer for everyone and to help prevent other families from experiencing a similar tragedy.
“Today, we remember Lucy. We honor her life, the joy and light she brought to others and the legacy she continues to leave behind. We recommit ourselves to the work of making our waterways safer and ensuring that Lucy’s story continues to inspire positive change in our community and beyond.”
The Puig Family:
“The Puig family is deeply disappointed by today’s verdict, and our hearts hurt for the Fernandez family, who continue to live every day with the unimaginable loss of Lucy.
“For nearly four years, our family has lived with the consequences of that tragic day. We see Katy’s injuries every day. We see the challenges she continues to face, the strength she demonstrates in overcoming them, and the impact this tragedy has had on her life and the lives of those who love her. No verdict can change those realities.
“We have long believed that this case was compromised from the very beginning by critical investigative failures on the day of the accident. George Pino was not administered a sobriety test, nor was a blood sample obtained. As a result, evidence that should have been available in a fatal boating accident investigation was lost forever. That failure deprived the prosecutors, the jury, and ultimately the public of information that may have helped provide a more complete picture of what occurred.
“We are grateful to the prosecutors for their dedication, professionalism, and tireless efforts. They did an outstanding job with the facts and evidence they were given, and they pursued this case with integrity and compassion for the victims and their families.
“While we respect our system of justice and the role of the jury, we profoundly disagree with the verdict. Based on the evidence presented, we believe George Pino should have been held accountable for the reckless operation of his vessel. We also believe that many people who are unfamiliar with boating may not fully appreciate the dangers associated with excessive speed on the water or the importance of adhering to established navigational rules that exist to protect lives and prevent exactly this type of tragedy.
“The criminal case may now be over, but its consequences are not. Lucy is still gone. Katy’s injuries remain. Two families continue to carry burdens that neither asked for nor deserved.
“Today, we remember Lucy. We continue to support Katy in her recovery. We pray for both families and for all those whose lives were forever changed on September 4, 2022. And while we are disappointed by today’s outcome, we remain steadfast in our belief that the truth of what happened that day has not changed.”
The Pino Family:
“We are grateful to the jurors for their careful consideration of the evidence and for reaching a just verdict. From the beginning, we have maintained that the events of September 4, 2022, were a tragic accident, not a crime. The testimony presented at trial, including unrebutted accounts from eyewitnesses who saw no signs of impairment, confirmed that Mr. Pino was not under the influence, was not operating the vessel recklessly and that he did everything he could to protect his passengers after the accident.
“We continue to mourn the loss of Lucy Fernandez every day and to pray for all those who were affected by this maritime mishap. Our hearts remain with the families of those involved in the accident, and we hope that today’s verdict allows everyone to continue the long process of healing.”
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