Overview
- A 21-foot charter boat capsized near Liberty Island on Aug. 8, throwing passengers into the water and killing 27-year-old Sara Sanchez and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia.
- Federal prosecutors charged Manuel Hernandez with two counts of misconduct or neglect of a ship officer resulting in death and he was later taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody and is being held without bail.
- Investigators allege the vessel was overloaded with 14 people despite a typical capacity of about 10, lacked an infant-size life jacket, and was operated by a man who was not licensed or trained to captain it.
- The Department of Homeland Security says Hernandez entered the U.S. illegally in 2007 and Secretary Markwayne Mullin signaled officials will seek his removal after he faces criminal proceedings.
- The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Coast Guard Investigative Service are leading active probes that could prompt tougher enforcement of small passenger‑boat rules while the victims’ family and survivors continue to grieve.