One of the people charged with killing 10-year-old Brooklyn
Carroll in a boating crash will likely stay behind bars.
On Monday, a Chatham County judge denied Annemarie
Flanigan’s request to lower her $1 million bond.
Flanigan and her attorney Joshua Xerri asked the judge to
lower her bond, pointing to a clean criminal record, her history as a combat
nurse with the military, and her responsibility as a caretaker for her son with
autism.
“Every day she’s in jail is another day he’s not getting the
care he needs,” Xerri told the court.
According to prosecutors, Flanigan had plans to leave for
Wisconsin. However, her attorney said the trip was not a ploy to flee and that
she would even be willing to comply with GPS monitoring.
“Ms. Flanigan is very clearly talking about traveling to Wisconsin
for her father’s funeral,” Xerri said.
Prosecutors made sure to closely tie Flanigan’s integrity to
that of her boyfriend Quinten Kight. Both of them face second-degree murder
charges.
Flanigan,
the boat’s owner, was on board during the crash. Kight was behind the wheel
and charged with causing serious injury by impaired boating and operating a
boat in a reckless manner. Thirty-nine
empty seltzer cans were recovered in the boat by authorities.
“Thirty-nine empty alcohol cans inside the boat, including
at least six of which that appeared to have been shot-gunned,” district
attorney Jeff Nieman said.
Flanigan’s charges include felony death by impaired boating,
serious injury via impaired boating and aiding and abetting boating while
impaired.
Nieman noted previous car crashes where Kight was believed
to be under the influence. He then questioned Flanigan’s decision-making and alluded
that she was complicit even before the boat crash.
“What we have, your honor, is someone who had years of
watching this guy hurt people when he gets drunk,” Nieman told the judge. “She’s
the one who handed the keys to a drunk person.”
While Flanigan’s name is on the title of the boat, Xerri
said she viewed herself and Kight as co-owners of it.
District Attorney Jeff Nieman said others on the boat with Kight and Flanigan warned them that they were about
to crash. He said Kight tried to swerve but still hit Jennifer Stehle, who lost
her leg, and Brooklyn Carroll, who did not survive.
Stehle’s family attended the court hearing virtually.
Sniffles and sobs could often be heard from Carroll’s
parents, who sat in the front row of that court hearing.
While they declined to speak with reporters, they
sent out a statement later that evening:
“Instead of taking our beloved Brooklyn to school today, we attended a criminal
bond hearing for one of the people accused with her death. As we sat and
listened to the disturbing facts surrounding this needless and tragic event, we
held a lock of Brooklyn’s hair in our hands and remembered the joy she brought
to our lives.
We thank the Chatham County District Attorney’s office and
law enforcement for their undivided attention to this case which has devastated
so many families. We also express our heartfelt thanks to this community for
their continued prayers.”
Flanigan’s bond was increased to $1 million when officers charged her with second-degree murder. Her bond will remain the same.