Creepy surveillance footage captured the moment a 78-year-old boater left a dock shortly before he allegedly struck and killed beloved local dancer Ella Adler.
Lawyers for suspect Carlos ‘Bill’ Alonso released the footage because they say it reinforces their claim that he had no idea about the tragic accident before speeding away from the scene.
In the images of fox6was seen unmooring his 42-foot Boston Whaler boat shortly after 3 p.m. on Saturday, before calmly returning around 4:30 p.m.
Alonso has not been charged and his lawyers say the video shows he was “alone, not drinking and had no idea he could have hit anyone.”
It comes as tributes pour in for 15-year-old Adler following her death, as her family said she was a “force of nature” who performed more than 100 times with Miami City Ballet.
Creepy surveillance footage captured the moment a 78-year-old boater left a dock shortly before he allegedly struck and killed beloved local dancer Ella Adler.
Pictured: Carlos Guillermo Alonso, the man police suspect hit Ella Riley Adler with his boat on May 11 while she was wakeboarding.
Adler, 15, was celebrating a friend’s birthday when she was hit and killed.
The tragedy unfolded while Adler was celebrating a friend’s birthday off the coast of Nixon Beach in Key Biscayne, and authorities said she was splashing in the water after wakeboarding.
A boater struck and killed the 15-year-old in the water, and witnesses described “a lot of blood” at the spot where the boat sped away.
Alonso was identified as a suspect two days later and his boat was found docked behind his home in Hammock Oaks.
He insisted he had no idea about the tragedy and is cooperating with police.
In a statement, her attorney Lauren Krasnoff said she hopes the release of the footage shows her client’s actions more clearly at the time.
“This was an unthinkable tragedy and our hearts are broken for Ella and her family,” Krasnoff’s statement read.
“We hope this video helps put to rest some of the horrible and unfounded rumors circulating about Bill, who is absolutely devastated.
‘As the video shows, Bill was alone and had no idea he could have hit anyone.
“He parked the boat at his house, he was calm, he didn’t clean the boat and he didn’t try to hide anything.”
The boater’s lawyer added that he will continue to cooperate with the ongoing police investigation “in every way possible.”
A lifeguard revealed that when they arrived at the crash site (pictured), officials found “a lot of blood in the water” and the driver sped away.
Alonso was identified as a suspect two days after the accident and his boat was found docked behind his home in Hammock Oaks (pictured).
She (pictured center) was described as someone who had “a great group of friends” and was proud of her Jewish heritage. She was also a celebrated local dancer who participated in performances of The Nutcracker and performed more than 100 times for the Miami City Ballet.
The update comes just days after Adler’s funeral was celebrated by her heartbroken family and friends, with tributes pouring in for the talented teenager.
Rabbi Jonathan Berkun, who led the service, called Ella “a star, a force of nature.”
‘You were taken too soon and the world has been stripped of all the things you could have achieved. But you will always be here with us and your friends and family will carry your energy and your spirit forever,’ he added.
The teenager was a high achiever and was involved in many different organizations and clubs, including her school’s Jewish Student Association, the debate team, and the Miami City Ballet.
‘She Adler was not only a beloved student and magnificent dancer who graced our stage in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker; she was an integral part of our family,” Miami City Ballet spokesperson Billy Zavelson told DailyMail.com.
Rachel Rodriguez, principal of the Ransom Everglades school where Adler attended, also shared the school community’s collective grief over Adler’s untimely death.
‘Our hearts are broken and our community has been devastated by this tragedy. She shone in our classrooms and on our stages,” Rodríguez said.
“In this time of unspeakable grief, we have been touched by the outpouring of kindness and compassion from the Ransom Everglades community.”
Mourners support each other as they leave Temple Beth Sholom after Adler’s funeral in Miami on Monday.
Friends and family attended Ella’s funeral Monday morning at Temple Beth Sholom in Miami Beach.
Ella Riley Adler is pictured (center) with her immediate family, from the Facebook page of her father Matthew Adler, a real estate developer.
Ella is survived by her parents, Amanda and Matthew, along with her siblings Jaden and Adalynn. She was also the great-granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor and her grandfather is the current United States ambassador to Belgium.
Adler’s family has requested that donations be made in his memory to the Jewish Federation of Greater Miami or the Miami City Ballet.
The teen’s obituary characterized her as a tirelessly dedicated student who loved to celebrate life.
‘She worked hard at everything she did. She had a precocious discipline and focus that belied her age. She didn’t know what it was like to work at half speed.
‘She gave it her all and because of that, her energy made her stand out. “She worked tirelessly in school, where she excelled,” her loved ones wrote.
