BOSTON — A boat owner and operator has been indicted in the July boat crash that killed a 27-year-old woman.
On Thursday, a Suffolk County grand jury returned indictments charging 38-year-old Ryan Denver of Boston’s Seaport neighborhood with involuntary manslaughter, three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
Denver is the owner and operator of a pleasure boat that crashed in Boston Harbor in July, killing 27-year-old Jeanica Julce.
Officials say Denver was operating the 37-foot-long, 17,000-pound vessel in Boston Harbor on July 17, 2021 when just before 3 a.m., it “struck Daymarker 5, a large distinctively marked fixed navigational aid, head-on with such destructive force that the boat sank, sending all eight individuals on board – including Ms. Julce and Mr. Denver – into the harbor.”
Emergency responders rescued Denver and six other passengers from the water but were unable to find Julce during the rescue operation. Her body was recovered at about 10 a.m. that day.
Denver is scheduled for arraignment on November 19.
Denver’s lawyer sent Boston 25 News the following statement:
“The accident that occurred in Boston Harbor last July was a tragic event, that has left Ryan devastated at the loss of his close friend Jeanica Julce. Though tragic, this incident was indeed an accident, and should not be treated as a criminal matter. We are dismayed that the District Attorney’s Office has nonetheless chosen to indict Ryan, based on unreliable data, in what amounts to a serious overcharge by that office.
In conducting our own review of the evidence available to the defense team, we have determined that Ryan operated his boat that night in a reasonable manner and at an appropriate speed, all while he was sober. Among other issues, we also determined that the day marker, which his boat hit at night, is not illuminated, or marked sufficient for recreational boaters. After the impact, Ryan and all of the passengers entered the water as the boat began taking on water, and Ryan did everything in his power to assist them until first responders arrived on the scene. After first responders returned him to shore, Ryan remained on the scene and answered all questions from police, and he has continued to cooperate fully with law enforcement throughout this investigation.
Ryan Denver is an admired businessman, who, along with his team at Select Demo, has created a trusted and accomplished company that has given back to the community in many ways. He should not be subjected to criminal charges as a result of this terrible accident.”
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