Last Updated on July 20, 2018 by Terry
Dateline Sheridan: Crazed man intentionally attempts to sink his own boat. His wife and 11 year old son were in the boat at the time the heinous crime was committed. Authorities are not releasing the name of the man from Center Grove, Arkansas in order to protect his family. He has been appointed a public attorney as no respectable lawyer will take his case. A court date is pending.
Well, that’s how it happened. His wife and son were in the boat. But the man continues to claim that the attempted boat sinking was an accident.
You decide as his story is retold:
He had on old fiberglass boat built around 1990. Everyone that has dealt with boats would know that a boat that old may have many problems and can be dangerous. Not to mention that it had been setting around for 15 years! What began this story was that his son had been talking a lot about wanting to start fishing. The man decided to go through the old boat and motor to make sure it was safe to use.
After a couple of weeks and a bucket full of money, he told his son that they would go fishing the following Saturday. His wife had not shown any signs of wanting to go fishing, but he talked her into coming along. Her friends thought this to be very peculiar. Why would he want her to go on the outing? She agreed, but only to make sure their son would be safe in the old worn out boat.
When they arrived at the lake, he backed the trailer in and launched the boat. By his own admission, he looked it over and claimed to find nothing wrong. His wife told authorities that he received a phone call during his inspection of the boat and may have been distracted. He was heard saying that the call was a work emergency and since he is a very important person there that he had to take the call. He maintains that his inspection was thorough.
They motored down the lake a few minutes and began to fish. He had baited his wife’s hook and she let out her line. Two things happened simultaneously; his wife began screaming that she had a fish on her line. And as the man was attempting to take the nice sized catfish off her hook, their son made a declaration: “Hey dad, my feet are under water, I think we’re sinking!”
The man was trying to stay composed realizing that water was filling up the boat. It is thought that the accused was also surprised as the boat was filling faster than he had planned, but that is just conjecture at this time.
He turned on the bilge pump and after several attempts, he finally got the motor started. He turned it around and headed for the dock area. In his panic, he had forgotten to pull up the trolling motor which caused more concern from his wife and son. Authorities are not sure if it was simply a stalling tactic in order for the boat to have more time to fill. He hurried to the front to return the electric motor to the travel position.
His son was clinging to his mother and very afraid that they were going to sink but his mom was able to console him and keep him calm. They made it to the ramp and were able to get the boat back on the trailer. After pulling it up to a safe place, the man found that the boats transom was cracked from top to bottom. When questioned how he didn’t discover the crack while he was making the other repairs or the inspection, he had no answer.
It has been a few weeks now and there has been a rumor floating around that the entire incident was simply a harmless accident, you know, a series of coincidences. The people that live in their community aren’t so sure.
He claims he has been terrified since the incident that due to the money and time wasted on the old boat that his wife would never allow him another. He was even overheard saying he felt sorry for his son as would never learn to fish.
There was one thing that he had forgotten, his wife’s fish. She was so excited about catching the fish that she convinced authorities to drop all charges, whether true or not. She instructed the man, her husband, to sell the old boat and head to Bass Pro Shops where she signed for a new 19’ boat and brand new 300 horsepower motor! Their son could not be happier as he will now get to go fishing as much as he wants to.
So, did you know that one catfish is worth a new boat? It can be, given the proper circumstances and a lot of good luck. (And a sweetheart for a wife)
But the story does not end here. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is now conducting their own investigation. They want to know if the man had 3 personal flotation devices in the boat, a proper fishing license, and a current boat registration. Their findings are due to be released soon.
Do you know who the real victim in this fairy tale is? The chump who was conned into buying that old boat! He’s the one who needs a lawyer.
