The scuba dive boat captain, Jerry Boylan, was set to be sentenced on a charge of criminal negligence following a deadly fire that claimed the lives of 34 people aboard the vessel Conception nearly five years ago, making it the deadliest maritime disaster in recent U.S. history. Boylan faced up to 10 years in prison for the charge of misconduct or neglect of a ship officer. The defense was seeking a five-year probationary sentence for Boylan, with three years to be served under house arrest, arguing that he did not intend for anyone to die and lives with grief, remorse, and trauma as a result of the tragedy.
The Conception was anchored off Santa Cruz Island when it caught fire, sinking less than 100 feet from shore, leading to the deaths of 33 passengers and a crew member who were trapped in a bunkroom below deck. Among the victims were a deckhand, an environmental scientist, a globe-trotting couple, a data scientist from Singapore, and a family of three sisters, their father, and his wife. Boylan was the first to abandon ship, along with four crew members who survived, leading to claims of negligence from both the prosecution and the defense during the trial.
The prosecution and defense sought to assign blame during the trial, with the government arguing that Boylan failed to post the required night watch and did not properly train his crew in firefighting, leading to the fire spreading undetected. Boylan’s attorneys, on the other hand, attempted to shift blame to Glen Fritzler, the owner of Truth Aquatics Inc., which operated the Conception. They argued that Fritzler was responsible for failing to train the crew in firefighting and other safety measures, creating a lax safety culture on the boat. The Fritzlers, who have not spoken publicly about the tragedy since shortly after the fire, have not responded to requests for comment.
After nearly five years of legal proceedings, Boylan’s sentencing marked the final step in a prosecution that has frustrated the victims’ families. Initially indicted on 34 counts of seaman’s manslaughter, Boylan faced the possibility of 340 years in prison, but a superseding indictment charged him with only one count of neglect. U.S. District Judge George Wu dismissed this indictment in 2022, leading to another grand jury decision. The exact cause of the fire onboard the Conception remains undetermined, but the tragedy has prompted changes to maritime regulations, congressional reform, and ongoing lawsuits.
With the conclusion of the criminal case, attention has turned to the ongoing lawsuits related to the tragedy. Three days after the fire, Truth Aquatics filed suit under a maritime law provision that allows the owners to limit their liability to the value of the remains of the boat, which was a total loss. The legal maneuver, successfully utilized by the owners of other vessels like the Titanic, requires the Fritzlers to prove they were not at fault. As the legal proceedings continue, the families of the victims and those impacted by the tragic fire continue to seek justice and closure from the devastating event.
