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Britons arrested in Caribbean over tourist Aimee Rhoads's diving death Britons arrested in Caribbean over tourist Aimee Rhoads' diving death
(2 months later)
Two Britons accused over the death of an American tourist in the Florida Keys in 2011 face extradition to the United States after they were arrested on the Caribbean island of St Maarten.Two Britons accused over the death of an American tourist in the Florida Keys in 2011 face extradition to the United States after they were arrested on the Caribbean island of St Maarten.
Christopher Jones and Alison Gracey have been charged with involuntary manslaughter over the death of Aimee Rhoads, who drowned when their diving boat capsized.Christopher Jones and Alison Gracey have been charged with involuntary manslaughter over the death of Aimee Rhoads, who drowned when their diving boat capsized.
Jones and Gracey were the operators of Key Largo Scuba Shack, running diving trips from the “Get Wet” commercial dive charter boat. Rhoads, from Washington state, was visiting Florida on a scuba-diving holiday.Jones and Gracey were the operators of Key Largo Scuba Shack, running diving trips from the “Get Wet” commercial dive charter boat. Rhoads, from Washington state, was visiting Florida on a scuba-diving holiday.
An indictment, unsealed by the office of the US attorney in Florida on Tuesday, said: “The alleged unlawful and careless manner in which the defendants operated the boat caused the death of an individual scuba diver.An indictment, unsealed by the office of the US attorney in Florida on Tuesday, said: “The alleged unlawful and careless manner in which the defendants operated the boat caused the death of an individual scuba diver.
“Additionally, the indictment alleges that the defendants knowingly and willingly made a false statement to the US Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center about the boat’s ownership.”“Additionally, the indictment alleges that the defendants knowingly and willingly made a false statement to the US Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center about the boat’s ownership.”
If convicted, the US attorney’s office said, Jones faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, and Gracey a maximum of eight years.If convicted, the US attorney’s office said, Jones faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, and Gracey a maximum of eight years.
According to media reports, the boat began to take on water shortly after leaving Molasses reef, off Key Largo. Rhoads and others on the boat were trapped in a cabin.According to media reports, the boat began to take on water shortly after leaving Molasses reef, off Key Largo. Rhoads and others on the boat were trapped in a cabin.
Another diver, Amit Rampurkarl, was critically injured but recovered in hospital. Four other tourists, along with the captain and a crew member, survived. Another diver, Amit Rampurkar, was critically injured but recovered in hospital. Four other tourists, along with the captain and a crew member, survived.
Local reports at the time said the boat sank in “about two minutes”.Local reports at the time said the boat sank in “about two minutes”.
Jones and Gracey, who were in the Bahamas at the time of Rhoads’ death, were arrested on 5 June on St Maarten, a Dutch Caribbean island.Jones and Gracey, who were in the Bahamas at the time of Rhoads’ death, were arrested on 5 June on St Maarten, a Dutch Caribbean island.
Rhoads’s widower, Pat Rhoads, who publishes a blog dedicated to his wife, said he had not expected this development.Rhoads’s widower, Pat Rhoads, who publishes a blog dedicated to his wife, said he had not expected this development.
“I never expected this day to come,” he wrote. “As British citizens who were outside the US at the time of the incident, and who were in a member of the British Commonwealth [Bahamas], there was little to no chance of them being arrested or extradited.“I never expected this day to come,” he wrote. “As British citizens who were outside the US at the time of the incident, and who were in a member of the British Commonwealth [Bahamas], there was little to no chance of them being arrested or extradited.
“I had accepted this reality, and decided that I needed to move on with my life with the likelihood that we would never see justice done to these people.”“I had accepted this reality, and decided that I needed to move on with my life with the likelihood that we would never see justice done to these people.”
This article was amended on 21 August 2015 to correct the spelling of Amit Rampurkar’s name.