‘Conception’ Captain Found Guilty in Santa Barbara Dive-Boat Fire That Killed 34
Jerry Boylan Found Guilty of ‘Seaman’s Manslaughter’ for His Role in Deadliest Maritime Disaster in Modern U.S. History
[Updated: Tue., Nov. 7, 2023, 9:45am]
The captain of the Santa Barbara–based scuba dive boat that caught fire and sank four years ago was found guilty of “seaman’s manslaughter” on Monday, November 6. The P/V Conception was 100 feet offshore of Santa Cruz Island when it sank on Labor Day in 2019, resulting in the deaths of 33 passengers and one crewmember, the deadliest maritime disaster in recent U.S. history.
Captain Jerry Nehl Boylan, 69, was found guilty of one count of misconduct or neglect of a ship officer, commonly called “seaman’s manslaughter,” a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. He is the only person to face criminal charges in connection to the tragedy, which led to changes in maritime regulations, congressional reform, and multiple ongoing civil lawsuits.
