As a result of this incident Sunday afternoon, the first priority in the MCSO investigation was to determine ongoing safety for the public, employees at the Scorpion Bay Marina, and Sheriff’s Office personnel investigating. The night of the incident with the assistance of APS, we were able to shut down electricity to dock A. This allowed for a safe scene for Lake Patrol Detectives and Divers during the body recovery and inspection of the electrical components.
On Monday morning, Detectives with the assistance of The City of Peoria Electrical Inspector, and a Commercial Electrician who specializes in Marina construction, were able to determine the Scorpion Bay Marina’s electrical infrastructure was operating properly and safely. The second phase of the investigation was to determine the source of the electricity that contributed to the drowning of Michael and Timothy.
Under the supervision of the electrical professionals, Lake Patrol Detectives were able to conduct multiple tests and ultimately recreated the circumstances which placed electrical voltage into the water. This result was isolated to the electrical system of the victim’s watercraft only. No other boats or slips were affected.
The victim’s boat had an electrical connection system which was not compatible with the marina’s receptacle. Electrical safety features were bypassed by the intentional and improper modification of the boat’s electrical connection system. This resulted in electricity being discharged into the water around the swim platform, which is where the victims entered the water. The investigation is ongoing, following up on additional leads.
Safety Considerations:
- The Scorpion Bay Marina’s electrical system is a safe operating system and the public should not be concerned with their safety regarding dock usage.
- DO NOT do your own 120-volt AC electrical work on a boat or DO NOT hire an electrician who is not familiar with American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) standards. Many of the problems that lead to electrical faults result from the differences between shore and boat electrical systems and standards.
- DO NOT use common household extension cords for providing shore power to your boat. Use, and encourage other boaters to use, shore power cords built to UL standards.
- Have your boat tested once a year to see if it is leaking electricity.
- It is not advised to swim within 100 yards of any freshwater marina.