MIAMI – What did additional Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer-worn body camera footage document the September 2022 night real estate mogul George Pino crashed a boat, killing one teenager and permanently disabling another?
The public doesn’t know, because FWC officials, in a statement, said video from at least two officers was deleted after a set retention period because of how the officers labeled it, categorizing them as “incidental” because they were not the lead officers in the case.
The Miami Herald first reported the news of the missing video.
Not addressing any violations directly, an FWC spokesperson added in a statement to Local 10 News, “Based on our review, their actions were within the bounds of the policy as it is currently written. The policy is now under revision.”
The 29-foot center console Pino was operating ran into a channel marker near Boca Chita Key, tossing the 14 on board overboard, hurting several, killing 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez, and severely wounding Katerina “Katy” Puig.
At the time, FWC officials said alcohol was not a factor, but then it was revealed investigators found “61 empty alcoholic bottles and cans, 1 empty champagne bottle, and a half-consumed bottle of liquor” on board.
It wasn’t until October 2024 that Pino, 54, would face a related felony charge of reckless vessel homicide. Before that, investigators had filed a civil infraction and misdemeanors.
Meanwhile, Pino’s attorney told Local 10 News, “We too are disturbed by the deletion of the body-worn camera (BWC) footage.”
Pino’s defense team said it prevents a jury from seeing what they believe to be contradictory allegations made by one of the officers — an “innuendo” of impairment during a recent deposition — that they say is “categorically false.”
According to court records, Pino’s next status hearing is scheduled for Thursday at 9 a.m.
Local 10 News reached out to the Florida Attorney General’s Office, the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and every state senator and representative representing Miami-Dade, asking if their offices are calling for or plan to launch an independent investigation into FWC’s handling of this case.
We have not heard back as of Friday evening.