Prosecution Involving Duck Boat Sinking May Proceed

Friday, May 17, 2024 at 8:04 AM

A case charging three men with manslaughter in the deaths of passengers on the duck boat that sank in a storm on Table Rock Lake in 2018 can move forward after ruling from the Missouri Court of Appeals.

Prosecution of Kenneth McKee, Charles Baltzell and Curtis Lanham had been halted after an appeal of a ruling that the Stone County prosecutor and Missouri attorney general had to disclose to the defense communications between those offices and the Missouri governor regarding the case. The appeals court recently ruled that those communications do not have to be shared with the men’s defense attorneys according to a report posted by Ozarks First.

McKee was captain on the vessel that sank, killing 17 passengers. Lanham was general manager at Ride the Ducks in Branson and Baltzell was operations supervisor who was a manager on duty when the boat sank. Online court records do not indicate a new court date has been set.

The full story can be found on the Ozarks First Website.

(Story by Bill Tatum, Ozarks First)

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