Boat Owner Charged in Harris Lake Tragedy Appears in Chatham County Court as Prosecutors Cite Flight Risk

Chatham County, North Carolina — August 6, 2025 — According to ABC 11, AnneMarie Flanigan, the registered owner of the boat involved in the deadly Harris Lake boating crash, appeared in court facing charges related to the tragic incident that claimed the life of 10-year-old Brooklyn Carroll and left school social worker Jennifer Stehle critically injured.

Flanigan is the second person to face charges in connection with the crash, following the arrest of Quinten Gregory Kight, who authorities allege was impaired when he steered the boat into a group of swimmers last Saturday.

During the hearing, prosecutors revealed that Flanigan was not only on board at the time of the crash but was also in a romantic relationship with Kight. They pointed to a jailhouse call made by Kight in which Flanigan allegedly mentioned plans to leave North Carolina and relocate to Wisconsin this week. Prosecutors used this information to argue that she posed a flight risk and urged the court to keep her bond set at $500,000.

Flanigan’s court-appointed attorney, J.D. Xerri, disputed the claim, stating that her travel was intended to attend her father’s funeral. He emphasized Flanigan’s background as a former Army nurse who served in four combat zones. He noted that she stayed at the scene to provide emergency aid to the victims until paramedics arrived.

“She triaged and assisted the victims until EMS could take over,” said Xerri.

Despite those efforts, Chatham County District Attorney Jeff Nieman argued that Flanigan misled investigators by initially denying she had witnessed the crash. Multiple witnesses, however, placed her on the vessel when the fatal collision occurred. Nieman said her denial directly contradicted both her admissions and eyewitness accounts from others aboard the boat, which reportedly held about 10 people, including children.

Authorities also revealed that nearly 90 empty alcoholic beverage containers were discovered on or near the boat, although Flanigan herself was not found to be under the influence. Prosecutors allege she was present during the purchase of the alcohol and allowed it to be brought aboard.

“She knowingly allowed alcohol to be consumed on her boat and enabled Kight’s reckless and deadly conduct,” Nieman told the court.

Judge Sherri Murrell ultimately ruled to keep the $500,000 secured bond in place, citing concerns about Flanigan’s awareness of Kight’s behavior on the lake.

“I find it difficult to believe that over several hours, the boat’s owner was unaware of the driver’s actions,” said Murrell.

Flanigan is facing multiple charges, including death by impaired boating, serious injury by impaired boating, and aiding and abetting. The first two charges mirror those brought against Kight. Prosecutors said the case relies in part on State v. Gibbs, a North Carolina Supreme Court precedent establishing that vehicle owners who knowingly allow impaired individuals to operate their vehicles can be held just as responsible as the drivers themselves.

Kight, meanwhile, was already out on bond from an unrelated 2023 hit-and-run case in Moore County when the lake crash occurred. Prosecutors also claim that Flanigan assisted Kight during the investigation of that earlier incident, including letting officers into her home when they were searching for him.

Flanigan’s next court appearance is scheduled for August 20.

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Notes: Our team created this post using secondary sources and has not independently verified all the facts surrounding the accident. If you find any incorrect details, please contact the Ramsay Law Firm so we can update the post with the most accurate information. This post will be removed if requested.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice and is not a solicitation for business. The photograph used in this post is not representative of this accident. If you are injured in an accident, seek medical attention immediately, then speak to a North Carolina personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.