FINDING ANSWERS

Criminal Investigation Into Fatal Duck Boat Incident Opened

The Missouri attorney general’s office confirmed it has opened a criminal investigation into the deadly sinking.

The Missouri attorney general’s office has opened a criminal investigation into the circumstances of the duck boat capsizing and sinking that killed 17 people at Table Rock Lake, according to The Kansas City Star. “We are working with investigators to determine the facts and whether any criminal charges are appropriate,” a spokeswoman for the AG’s office told the Star. She did not name any specific companies involved in the investigation but did say the office would be investigating whether the incident violated a law that forbids “fraud or deception in the sale of goods and services.” Violation of the law is reportedly a class D felony that could result in a maximum of four years in prison. Ripley Entertainment, owner of the Ride the Ducks operation since 2017, told the newspaper that it is part of a National Transportation Safety Board investigation and is “restrained from commenting on any aspect of it.” The state probe comes as a $100 million wrongful-death lawsuit was filed against several parties after nine members of one family died in the July 19 sinking.