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.
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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.