39 Empty Beer Cans Discovered After Girl Dies in North Carolina Lake Killing

He exhibited a strong odor of alcohol. and glassy eyes. They found 39 empty. beer cans in Mr. Kite's boat, seven of. which appear to have been shotguned. A. 10-year-old girl is dead and a woman. seriously injured after authorities say. an intoxicated man crashed his boat into. them at North Carolina's Harris Lake. The driver, who already has a prior DUI, now faces multiple charges. And the. boat's owner has also been charged for. letting him operate the vessel while. impaired. That's the allegation. These.

are shocking new details that are. emerging, including a massive amount of. alcohol on board and alleged attempt to. flee. We are going to break it all down. with a former detective. Right now, welcome to Sidebar, presented by Law and. Crime. I'm Jesse Weber. [Music]. This story is an unthinkable and. preventable tragedy. That's what we're. talking about. And it's one that had. things been handled differently, it. might have never ended up here on.

Sidebar. We would not be talking about. it. It was supposed to be just a. carefree summer day at Harris Lake in. Chatham County, North Carolina. The kind. of day where kids splash in the water, families soak up the stun. but instead. on Saturday, August 2nd, that piece was. shattered in an instant when a man. reportedly severely intoxicated, crashed. his boat into a group of swimmers. A. young girl was killed and another woman. suffered such devastating injuries that.

her leg had to be amputated. This is. beyond horrific. According to police, around 4:30 p.m., 40-year-old Quinton. Kite, who get this, already had a prior. DUI conviction, was operating a boat. packed with at least 10 people, including he was towing a raft that was. actually carrying two people. Now, at. the time, 10-year-old Brooklyn Carroll, a fifth grader at a local elementary. school, was swimming near the shore with. friends and family. And among the group.

was Jennifer Stell. is a social worker. and the mother of one of Brooklyn's. friends. And then out of nowhere, that. is when tragedy struck. Authorities say. Kite was attempting to make a turn when. the boat's propeller sliced into the. swimmers, killing Brooklyn and severely. injuring Jennifer. Her leg had to be. amputated due to the extent of the. damage. And when officers arrived on the. scene, Kite had reportedly returned to. the Cross Point access area, the public.

boat launch, and that is where law. enforcement made contact. They arrested. him. A blood sample was taken. It was. submitted for testing. The results. haven't been released as of yet. But. then you go to Monday, August 4th, and. Kite made his first court appearance, and I will tell you that is when even. more shocking details began to emerge, and we're going to get to those in a. minute. But first, the charges. So Kite. is being charged separately for each of. his alleged actions, both for causing. the death or allegedly causing the death. of 10-year-old Brooklyn Carol and also. for causing the life uh altering. injuries to Jennifer Stealth. So for.

Brooklyn, an arrest warrant states that. kite quote unlawfully, willfully, and. feloniously did operate a motor vessel. on the waters of this state to it Chiron. Harris Lake while under the influence of. an impairing substance unintentionally. causing the death of another person to. Brooklyn May Carroll with approximate. cause of death being the commission of. boating while impaired offense. Now, in. simple terms, to be charged with this. crime under state law, prosecutors have. to prove that someone was killed, that. the driver was impaired, and that the. impairment was the direct cause of the.

harm. The second charge in this case is. actually a misdemeanor. It's boating. while impaired. And the warrant says. that Kite unlawfully and willfully did. operate a vessel on the waters of North. Carolina, namely this lake, while under. the influence of an impairing substance. Now, as for Jennifer, Kite is facing a. separate felony charge. This time the. warrant alleges that kite unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously did operate a. motor vessel on the waters of this. state. You know, this lake while under. the influence of an impairing substance. unintentionally causing serious injury.

to another person. Obviously talking. about Jennifer and he's also facing a. misdemeanor count of operating a boat in. a reckless manner. According to the. warrant, kite unlawfully and willfully. did operate his or her motorboat uh this. wakebo uh green in colored with speckled. paint on the waters of this lake in a. negligent manner so as to endanger the. life of Jennifer by not looking forward. in the direction of travel while. operating the motor vessel and being. impaired at the time of the operation.

Not looking forward that is a very. significant detail here. Why? Because. according to the Chatham County District. Attorney Jeff Neman, it is a key piece. of what went wrong. In court on August. 4th, Nean revealed that multiple. witnesses stated Kite was actually. looking backward, watching the people he. was towing at the very moment of the. crash. But that's not all we learned. Take a listen to what happened in court. >> He exhibited a strong odor of alcohol. and glassy eyes. Despite the fact that. there was some attempt to evacuate. alcohol containers from the boat, they.

found 39 empty beer cans in Mr. Kite's. boat, seven of which appear to have been. shotguned. Um, they also found 50 alcohol containers. that were found outside the boat. Let. that sink in for a second. 39 empty beer. cans. Seven appeared to be shotgun. 50. containers total outside of the boat. Now, we know there were multiple people. on board this boat, but that kind of. alcohol, that's a lot. And we know there.

were several passengers on board, but. even so, a staggering amount of alcohol. And just when it seemed that the case. couldn't get more disturbing, you get. another dramatic twist, another arrest. And we're going to get to that in a. moment. But first, I want to bring on a. special guest who is with me here in. studio, friend of the show, retired NYPD. detective, and co-host of the Gold. Shields podcast. I hope everybody can go. check it out, Tom Smith. Tom, good to. see you. Thanks so much for taking the. time. >> It's a pleasure as always. >> Investigating these kinds of cases,

right? Obviously, you talk about car. crashes, DUI. When it comes to car. crashes, when you're dealing with a a. boat, how is it different? >> It's not you you you go about it the. same exact way. Uh it's operating a. vehicle, whether it's on a boat, on a. water, or on a road, the same exact way. when you're under the influence. The. case or the investigation is not going. to change. Given that the blood test. results weren't immediately available, they still make the rest the arrest. What does that tell you about the. circumstances uh that led to that.

arrest? >> Well, they're they're solid. Uh they. know what happened. They know the cause. of death. They know the circumstances. leading up to it and what this. individual did and the negligence, like. you said, you use the perfect word, preventable in this. and that's enough. to hold him and charge him with that. Once the blood tests come back, their. charges are going to get elevated. >> Now, I got to say this, at Long Crime, particularly when we're covering stories. like this, we try our best to give our. viewers clear, factdriven reports. But. look, the truth is we can't control the.

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subscribers to their Vantage plan. Go to. the link in our description, grownews.com/sidebar, or check out the QR code for 40%. unlimited access to their worldwide. coverage. Do they have to test the cans. to see when they were opened and when. they were consumed? You know, one of the. things I wondered was, is it possible. there were empty beer cans from a prior. occasion and not that exact moment? Probably. I might be stretching, but. >> yeah, probably not. Uh that's going to. go with interviews with the other people. on the boat. Uh and then even him later.

on once I have the opportunity to sit. down with him and interview him if he's. accessible to doing that about the. number of beers that were consumed that. day and the cans and all that. >> How do you process the scene? How do you. get interviews from the people that were. involved or or witnesses to what. happened? Because you know, time is of. the e essence, but particularly in a. case like this. Well, it's big uh. because if you you want to do the entire. thing, you want a a solid case. So, you're gonna go back and get as many.

people as witnessed him driving around. that lake as you can. Uh other boers, other swimmers, people at the dock, anyone who had anything to do with him, you're going to interview because you. never know what someone's going to say. He might have showed up there. intoxicated. So, you want to get the. people who actually saw him coming in. and maybe had an interaction with him. So, anyone involved in this who might. have seen any part of this is going to. get interviewed. >> Maybe cell phone videos, although maybe. unlikely. I'm not sure given that. environment. It's different than if you.

see a car crash in an intersection. There's cameras everywhere, right? It's. different on the water, I would imagine. >> Uh, you'd be surprised. I mean, that's. going to be part of the line of. questioning when you when you do. interviews. What did you see? How did. you see it? When did you see it? Do you. have your phone? Did you videotape. anything? the um and in terms of the. recall of this, you know, trying to. understand exactly what happened. It's. such a traumatic event. When you're. interviewing witnesses about this, is. that something you have to take into. consideration because this might have. happened very fast, very traumatic. How.

do you try to assess that trying to get. the full story about what happened? >> Well, you take your time and you're, you. know, conscious of what happened and the. impact. Everyone's different. you know, a traumatic event that you might not. have even have seen but heard about can. impact you different than someone who. actually witnessed it. So, you just have. to be conscious of that when you're. doing these interviews and take your. time because you want as much. information as you can get. So, you. don't want to skip anything. You don't. want to rush through anything. So, you. just take your time. I I don't know what. it takes to get a boating license or.

being able to operate a boat, but should. there be the same level of regulation uh. and licensing as there is to drive a. motor vehicle or or how does it work? >> Yeah, there should be. Uh there are you. do need a boating license. There's a. written test you need to take and and. depending on the state uh maybe an. operator's test. Uh but in this case, I'm not sure what had happened with. that. >> If there were a children on his boat, by. the way, it wasn't even his boat. We're. going to get into that. But if they were. on the one that he was operating, could.

you have child endangerment charges? Is. it going to affect the case in any way? Uh because again, if the idea was he was. operating this um while under the. influence, you wonder if this this is. just, you know, he might be facing more. charges. >> Well, listen, if I'm the detective, you. know, running this or the DA, I'm. charging him with everything under the. sun I can because you have to be held. accountable for your actions. And in. this case, he has to be held at the. highest level of his actions, taking. someone's life and the severe injury. that he caused to the other woman.

Everything under the sun you could. charge him with. And if it's endangering. the welfare of a child, assault, all of. that. Absolutely. >> And and the idea of where he was. looking, right? That that was a key. point the prosecutor hit upon. >> Yeah. That's a negligent part. You know, you have to operate that vehicle safely. And you're not going backwards, you're. going forwards. So you have to look. forward of of making sure there isn't a. boat, a person, anyone in front of you. And obviously he didn't do that. >> So talking about potential. accountability, there was another. arrest. There was another arrest in this. case. A second person is now facing.

charges in connection with this tragedy. And that woman is Ann Marie Flanigan, the owner of the boat. So police say. Flanigan and Kite, they were in a. relationship. And according to her. arrest warrant, she is now facing. charges of causing death or serious. injury by impaired boating and operating. the boat while intoxicated. The thing. about that is unlike Kite, her alleged. role doesn't involve driving under the. influence. It's not about her operating. this boat. It's about allowing someone. else in this alleged impaired condition.

to do so. Count one alleges that. Flanigan quote did allow Quinton Gregory. Kite to operate a motor vessel on the. waters of this state to wit Sharan. Harris Lake while under the influence of. an impairing substance unintentionally. causing the death of another person to. wit Brooklyn May Carol with approximate. cause of death being the commission of. boating while impaired offense. Count. two is nearly identical but this time it. focuses on Jennifer. Um, again it says. that um uh it alleges that Flanigan did. allow Quinton Gregory Kite to operate a.

motor vessel on the waters while under. the influence of an impairing substance. unintentionally causing the serious. injury of another person. And then again. referring to Jennifer and count three is. a misdemeanor charge alleging that. Flanagad did aid and abet operating. motor vessel on the waters of North. Carolina this lake while under the. influence of an impairing substance. So. you go to Wednesday, August 6th. Flanigan made her first court appearance. where prosecutors argued she should have. recognized Kite's level of impairment or.

alleged level of impairment and stopped. him from taking control of the boat. And. here's what makes that claim even more. damning. According to results from a. breathalyzer test, Flanigan blew a zero. She wasn't intoxicated at all. During. that hearing, prosecutors and defense. attorneys, they sparred over her role in. what happened. And some startling new. claims came to light, including an. alleged attempt to flee the state. >> When she was asked to give a written. statement gave a false and misleading.

statement to law enforcement, in that. call, Miss Flanigan said her intention. was to leave the state and move to. Wisconsin. >> Now, Flanigan's defense painted a very. different picture. Her attorney noted. that she is a combat nurse. Claims she. immediately tried to help the victims. after the crash. >> She. rushed to the victims in this case. She. stayed with the victims to this case, rendering a. >> Okay, Tom, what do you think about her. role or her alleged role in all this? >> I agree with it. You know, that's your.

boat. You're responsible for everything. that happens on that boat. And the. preventative measures she could have. taken to have him operate that under the. conditions he was in is solely her. responsibility. That boat could have. stopped. She could have taken over. It's. her boat. She knows how to drive it and. that could have stopped. And she didn't. do that. Tom, big thing here, uh, prosecutor Neman, this is something that. was laid out that Flanigan allegedly. misled police. quote. Then she later. wrote a misleading statement saying she. was called to the scene after the.

accident and didn't witness. This is. something Neiman had told the court. I. would contend the consumption was. happening right in front of her. What do. you make of that? >> Yeah, I agree with that. You know, uh. you have to be truthful. You know, when. someone's life has just been taken at. the hands of something you own, I don't. get being, you know, the not being. truthful is always a red flag obviously. in your role in something. So, I agree. with everything the prosecutor is doing. and going after her 100%. >> What would it take to build a case.

against her, per se? I mean, and do you. find it interesting that she hasn't been. charged with, you know, obstruction or. or evidence tampering? I'm not sure it. would amount based on the charges in the. state, but uh you know, for misleading. police or allegedly misleading police, she's not facing any charges as far as I. can see about that. >> Yeah. I mean, they'll have to dig. >> false statements to law. >> they'll have to dig deep into that and. see, you know, how misleading those. statements were. Did you really get the. police going in a different direction. and taking it off of you? All those are.

going to be taken into account. Uh, but. you know what? This is a classic, I. think, plea deal. What's going to. happen? Uh, you're going to avoid jail. time. We'll make a deal with you, become. a witness for the state, tell us. everything that happened and what he. did. This is kind of a classic thing. leading up to that, which is where I see. this going. >> Well, considering she reportedly blew a. 0 on her breathalyzer, how does that. factor into the investigation? >> Yeah. Well, you know, that's okay. Uh, and that.

>> I mean, would it have been better? I. mean, would it have helped? >> I think it hurt more because you can't. fall back on, well, I was kind of. intoxicated, too, and I didn't know what. he was drinking and that's not my. responsibility. when you didn't have a. drink at all, you know, and there's no. signs of that, you are clearly thinking. legibly and seeing what is happening in. front of you and let it happen. >> By the way, legal point of view, when we. say someone's aiding and abetting the. allegation that she was aiding and. abetting in the context of impaired. operation, what exactly does that mean?

>> That's her allowing the actions to take. place and not preventing it whatsoever. She's watching him drink. You know, again, going back to witness statements. and witness interviews, what was the. rest of that trip like before he. actually hit these people? Did he come. close to anybody else? Were there almost. a couple of other accidents that. happened? Those are all going to come. out later when all these interviews are. concluded and put into kind of one. package. You know, we don't know what. happened before this. Everyone's focused. on this horrible event that happened.

that took this girl's life. But what led. to this? Were there other almost that. happened that she, you know, sat there. and watched uh take place? >> And prosecutors also alleged so not only. that, you know, that she was not doing. anything to stop this, that she might. have misled police or didn't provide. entirely accurate information, but that. she attempted to flee the state. I I. believe they said even that she was. trying to attempt to go to Wisconsin. Um, in your experience, what does that. tell you? and does how does that factor.

into let's say you know bail or bond or. the progression of this case because. that's a serious allegation to make and. we talk about it's consciousness of. guilt in a case. >> Yeah, I agree with that. You know, when. you're trying to flee and get out of an. area after an incident that's not going. to look good for you, uh that's always. looking guilty or conscious of guilt. like you just said. And as far as a bail. goes, you know, part of bail hearings. and all that is your ability to maybe. flee the state. >> So now it's going to come out, right? So, uh, the judge is going to make that. decision. >> Have to talk to you about one more thing.

about this case. This is very. concerning. Um, going back to Kite, this. apparently was not his first runin with. the law. No. In fact, he has a history. that includes a previous DUI and other. serious allegations. According to court. records that were reviewed by ABC11, Kite was charged with DUI back in 2009. in New Mexico. He pleaded no contest and. was ordered to complete a court-mandated. DWI education program. You fast forward. to 2023. Kite was once again in legal.

trouble, this time for an alleged hit. and run in December that reportedly left. a resident injured. Now, those charges. are still pending, but Tom, I'm made of. questions here. How on earth was he. allowed to operate a boat? >> How was he? You're absolutely right. I. mean, you know, you have to be again, accountability. That's what it is. If. you get locked up for something like. this, your future has to be held. accountable for that. And in this case, it doesn't seem so. But, you know, the. the concerning thing is what the laws. are in North Carolina when it comes to.

court proceedings and bringing in past. arrests like in New York. You can't, you. know, uh past arrests and past crimes. aren't going to be in a trial in New. York. That depends what happens and what. the the case law is in North Carolina. will be interesting. >> From an investigative point of view, would you still look into that? Would. you spend some time looking back into. these past incidents, seeing maybe uh. the way it correlates to what he's. accused of now, seeing comparisons? Is. that something you would look into? >> Oh, sure. That all leads to just a.

history of this bad behavior, you know, and alcoholism and just horrible. decisions, you know, uh DWI, whether. it's in a car and or or on a boat, is a. conscious thought. You can stop it. you. don't have to go through with with. continuing to drink and get in a car and. a boat. So, if that is in his past, that's all going to be taken into. account. >> And sentencing, too. If he's ultimately. convicted, it would hurt him. Um, is. there a gap in the system for this to. happen? Is there a gap that a guy with.

this background um again was able. somehow to operate this boat and again, you know, they're they're talking about. who might be responsible, not just him, but Flanigan. Again, it's so hard to. prevent certain things. I cover cases. all the time about domestic violence and. orders of protection. It's piece of. paper. It doesn't not going to always. prevent things from happening. Hindsight's 2020. Sometimes you don't. have a crystal ball. There's only so. much. Someone might be let out on bail. in a in a less severe criminal case and.

then they end up committing a more. violent felony. But at the same time, I. have to ask that question considering he. wasn't he doesn't have a past of jewel. theft, you know? I mean, what he was. accused of in the past is so eerily. similar to what he's accused of now. >> Yeah. I mean, you nailed it. You know, the criminal justice system has so many. flaws and open doors of of past criminal. activity that kind of doesn't get. overlooked, but less lenient or or you. get out on bail. And then that crime.

that they're charged with initially. happens again at a worse level. You. know, this the same thing. He got. grabbed. No one got hurt. He got locked. up for DWI. But now, same actions leads. to somebody's death. >> What should the families be thinking. about in terms of their future? You. know, victims of crime. You have um. Brooklyn's family who is now dealing. with her loss. You have Jennifer and her. family who are dealing with her severe. injury. victims of crime, families of.

crime victims. What does their their. future look like? >> Well, a an emotional roller coaster. You're going to go through sadness, rage, outrage of of this whole process, you know, of his past arrests. The DA's, you know, going through a. trial prep is difficult when you've lost. someone because you have to relive it. You have to go through the story again. and again and again. it's not going to. be a one-time shot. You know, they're.

going to have to relive this over the. next x amount of months or wherever this. trial or or criminal procedures lead. And it's very difficult to do. And the. the prosecutor has to be mindful of. that. The detectives who are involved in. this are going to be there as well. So, everyone just has to have compassion. into what this family is going to be. going through. >> Let's focus on that. Let's end on that. point because following this tragic. accident, there were two GoFundMe. campaigns that were quickly set up to. support the victim's families during. this absolutely devastating time.

Brooklyn Carol's family shared a. heartfelt message on their fundraising. page on Saturday, August 2nd. Our family. experienced an unimaginable tragedy, the. sudden and heartbreaking loss of our. sweet Brooklyn May, just 10 years old. BB was a light in every room she entered. with an infectious smile, a loving. heart, and a spirit that touched. everyone who knew her. Her laughter, kindness, and energy brought so much joy. to her family and friends. Now her. parents, Kim and Matt, are facing every. parents worst nightmare as they navigate.

this painful and overwhelming time. We. want to lift some of the financial. burden off their shoulders so they can. focus on grieving and honoring her. beautiful life. This GoFundMe will help. cover expenses and time away from work. so they don't have to worry about. finances while coping with this. devastating loss. Any amount, no matter. how small, will make a difference. If. you can't donate, please consider. sharing this page and keeping our family. in your thoughts and prayers. From the. bottom of our hearts, thank you for your. love, support, and compassion during. this incredibly difficult time. Let's.

come together to honor Brooklyn and help. her family find strength and peace in. the days ahead. Now, in a similar. fashion, Jennifer's family, especially. her husband Justin, is facing a long and. difficult road ahead. Their GoFundMe. outlines the immense challenges that she. faces. It reads, "As Jennifer begins. this difficult journey, her family, especially her husband Justin, is doing. everything they can to support her, but. they need our help. The emotional and. financial burden is immense, and any. support will make a significant. difference in her recovery process. All.

funds raised through this campaign will. go directly to supporting Jennifer and. her family. Specifically, donations will. assist with medical bills and surgeries. Jennifer is facing multiple surgeries. and ongoing medical treatments, rehabilitation, and therapy. Jennifer. will require extensive therapy and. rehabilitation as she works to recover. Every contribution, no matter the size, will directly support Jennifer as she. takes on the long road to recovery. Your. kindness means the world to her and her. family during this time. And in a brief. statement, Brooklyn's family expressed.

their gratitude and their grief, saying, "This past Saturday, our lives were. shattered when our daughter Brooklyn. died from injuries she sustained when. she was hit by a boat while she was. innocently swimming at Shiran Harris. Lake. We appreciate the support that we. have received from our family, our. friends, and even strangers. As we. continue to grieve together as a family, we request privacy." And Tom, just to. end on one point, you know, now there's. the the case, the criminal case. I do. wonder what would be better. Would it be. better if he pleads guilty? Um, you. know, I don't know if it's working out.

some sort of deal where it doesn't go to. trial. They don't have to experience. this. They don't have to testify. They. don't have to have a jury in the gallery. see injuries and photographs and things. like that. Or is justice taking this to. trial and having a jury decide what's. happening? Because, you know, you always. think about the victim's families and. what they have to go through and you. imagine Jennifer would have to testify. >> Oh, yeah. you know, taking the the. burden off testifying and going through. a criminal procedure is always best. because especially horrific.

circumstances like this when it involves. a child uh and then another victim as. well. And hopefully the DA is in touch. with the families and going over any. possible deal that might happen and. don't just spring something on them. Have them be part of the process of what. they want to do. Uh you know, so that's. going to be something going forward in. both sides. what one wants or what's. best for everybody. >> Tom Smith, good seeing you. Thanks so. much for taking the time and I hope. everybody can check out Gold Shields. It's a great show. Get to hear more of.

Tom Smith. Who doesn't want that? Thank. you so much. >> Thank you so much for having me. >> And that's all we have for you right now. here on Sidebar. Everybody, thank you so. much for joining us. And as always, please subscribe on YouTube, Apple. Podcast, Spotify, wherever you should. get your podcasts. I'm Jesse Weber. I'll. speak to you next time. [Music].