A well-known real estate developer from Florida has turned himself in to authorities, more than two years after a tragic boat crash near Miami took the life of a teenage girl. George Pino, 54, is now facing a serious charge of vessel homicide for his role in the September 2022 accident.
The incident happened during what should have been a joyful day—Pino was celebrating his daughter’s birthday with family and friends. He was steering a 29-foot boat with his wife and 12 teenagers aboard when things went terribly wrong. The boat struck a channel marker near Boca Chita Key, killing 17-year-old Luciana Fernandez and leaving two other teens, ages 17 and 16, seriously injured.
This past Thursday, Pino appeared in a Miami-Dade courtroom with a large group of family and friends showing their support. He pleaded not guilty to the felony charge. His lawyer, Howard Srebnick, expressed shock over the timing, saying, “It’s frustrating that this charge is coming out more than two years later.”
According to investigators, Pino refused a blood-alcohol test right after the crash and insisted on having a lawyer present. A report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) later found no evidence that Pino was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, pointing instead to the way he was operating the boat.
But recently, the case took a new turn. Prosecutors filed the felony charge after a new witness—a firefighter who responded to the crash—claimed alcohol played a role in the tragedy. Adding to the scrutiny, investigators found a troubling amount of alcohol on the boat: 61 empty bottles and cans, an empty champagne bottle, and a half-full liquor bottle.
Body camera footage released last month showed Pino admitting to officers that he had consumed two beers but declining both a breathalyzer and a blood test. His lawyer, however, argues that this was a tragic accident, not a crime. The attorney emphasized that Pino even tried to save others after the crash, despite suffering a head injury himself that required 15 stitches.
Pino initially faced three misdemeanor charges, including careless operation of a vessel. But those were dropped in October, and the more severe homicide charge was added shortly afterward. Luciana Fernandez’s parents have expressed frustration, stating, “It’s heartbreaking to relive this, especially when the original investigation didn’t find evidence of impairment.”
Now, all eyes are on the next court date, scheduled for January 8, 2025. Pino’s attorney hopes the case will be dismissed, calling it “a terrible accident that doesn’t belong in a courtroom.” As the legal process unfolds, many are left wondering how this tragedy will impact everyone involved.
