Curtis P. Lanham, Misconduct and Negligence Resulting in 17 Deaths, Missouri 2018

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Two more employees of Ripley Entertainment, Inc. – the company that operated duck boat rides in Branson, Missouri – along with the captain of the duck boat that sank at Table Rock Lake last summer, resulting in the deaths of 17 people, have been indicted by a federal grand jury.

Curtis P. Lanham, 36, of Galena, Missouri, and Charles V. Baltzell, 76, of Kirbyville, Missouri, were charged in a 47-count superseding indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield on Thursday, June 13. The superseding indictment, which was unsealed and made public today following the initial court appearances of Lanham and Baltzell, contains the original charges against Kenneth Scott McKee, 51, of Verona, Missouri.

Lanham was employed by Ripley as the general manager at Ride the Ducks Branson. Lanham was responsible for the overall day-to-day management of the operations and duck boats, including Stretch Duck 7. Lanham’s duties also included setting policies and procedures for the operations and overseeing the training of employees. As general manager, Lanham held managerial authority over the entire staff of Ride the Ducks Branson. In July 2018, Lanham reported directly to Ripley’s president.

The superseding indictment contains the original charges against McKee of misconduct and negligence by a vessel captain, resulting in the death of another person. Baltzell is added to each of those felony counts – one count for each of the 17 passengers (including one crew member) who died when Stretch Duck 7 sank – as an aider and abettor of misconduct and neglect by a vessel captain.

Lanham is charged with 17 felony counts of misconduct and neglect by an executive officer of the corporate charterer/owner – one count for each of the 17 passengers (including one crew member) who died when Stretch Duck 7 sank. (The indictment includes an alternative theory of liability in relation to Lanham’s status, which alleges that he aided and abetted McKee’s misconduct, negligence, and inattention to duty.)

The federal indictment alleges that McKee committed a number of acts of misconduct, negligence, and inattention to his duties while piloting Stretch Duck 7 both before and during severe weather conditions. McKee allegedly failed to properly assess incoming weather prior to entering the vessel on the water. At the time McKee drove the vessel into the water, according to the indictment, there were severe thunderstorms in the area with winds of up to 70 miles per hour.

McKee, Baltzell, and Lanham also are charged in 13 misdemeanor counts – one count for each of the 13 passengers who survived the sinking of Stretch Duck 7 – with operating a vessel in a grossly negligent manner that wantonly and recklessly disregarded and endangered the life, limb, and property of persons on board Stretch Duck 7; or with aiding and abetting the operation of a vessel in such a grossly negligent manner.

Defendant/Respondent: Curtis P. Lanham, Charles V. Baltzell, Kenneth Scott McKee

Criminal Charges: Misconduct and negligence by a vessel captain, misconduct and neglect by an executive officer of the corporate charterer/owner, operating a vessel in a grossly negligent manner

City and State: Springfield, Missouri

Exact Date: Thursday, June 13, 2018

Sentence or Outcome: The superseding indictment was unsealed and made public following the initial court appearances of Lanham and Baltzell

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/pr/two-more-ripley-employees-indicted-misconduct-negligence-resulting-17-deaths-table-rock