Florida Men Charged in Fatal Boating Hit-and-Run That Killed 15-Year-Old Ballerina
Two Florida men charged with misdemeanor counts after allegedly causing the death of 15-year-old ballerina Ella Adler in a boating hit-and-run off Key Biscayne.
Authorities in Florida have filed misdemeanor charges against two men in connection with the tragic boating hit-and-run death of Ella Adler, a 15-year-old high school freshman who was fatally struck while wakeboarding in Key Biscayne’s Nixon Beach last year. The case has sent shockwaves through the community, raising concerns about boating safety and enforcement along South Florida’s busy waterways.
Carlos "Bill" Alonso, 79, faces charges for violating two U.S. Coast Guard navigational rules, while Edmund Hartley, 31, is charged with violations of four Coast Guard regulations, according to details released by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC). The incident occurred in May 2024 as Ella and a friend were being towed by a boat operated by Hartley and carrying over a dozen people. Both girls fell into the water at different locations—placing them at risk in a crowded boating area notorious for heavy traffic.
While in the water, Ella Adler was struck by a second vessel that then sped away from the scene. Witnesses described seeing a center console boat with blue bottom paint and multiple outboard engines in the vicinity. This description led investigators to Alonso’s Boston Whaler, which was docked outside his Coral Gables home. Alonso’s attorneys maintain that he was unaware he had hit anyone, and assert that FWC officials found no direct evidence linking his actions to causing the accident. "What happened last year was an absolute tragedy, but it was not Bill’s fault," attorney Lauren Krasnoff stated, adding that Alonso is "an experienced and cautious boater."
The charges have sparked a debate over responsibility and accountability on Florida waters. Both men have pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of careless operation of a vessel. As legal proceedings continue, the case highlights longstanding concerns over safety practices and the challenges of investigating incidents on crowded waterways.
Ella Adler’s death has been felt deeply across the Miami community. A freshman at Ransom Everglades School and a celebrated ballerina with the Miami City Ballet, she was known for her radiant spirit and dedication both on stage and at school. "In her 15 years on this earth, she dazzled us with her light," her family wrote in a statement. She was also the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, remembered for her pride in her Jewish-American heritage and her commitment to faith and service.
Officials with the FWC have extended their deepest sympathies to the Adler family, emphasizing that their thoughts remain with those mourning the loss as the investigation proceeds. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava echoed these sentiments, urging the public to "exercise better boat safety" in Ella’s memory, in hopes of preventing similar tragedies in the future.
