Indictments Returned in Fatal July Boat Crash

BOSTON, October 28, 2021— A Suffolk County grand jury returned indictments for manslaughter and other offenses against the owner and operator of a pleasure boat that crashed last summer, killing 27-year-old Jeanica Julce, Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins announced today.

The indictments, returned Tuesday, charge RYAN DENVER, 38, of Boston’s Seaport neighborhood, with involuntary manslaughter, three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Mr. Denver owned a Pursuit DC 365 speedboat which he named “Make it Go Away” and was operating the 37-foot-long 17,000-pound vessel in Boston Harbor in the early morning hours of July 17, 2021. At approximately 2:50 a.m., it struck Daymarker 5, a large distinctively marked fixed navigational aid, head-on with such destructive force that the boat sank, sending all eight individuals on board – including Ms. Julce and Mr. Denver – into the harbor.

The Boston Police Department’s Harbor Unit and personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard, Massachusetts State Police, Boston Fire Department, Massport Fire Department, Massachusetts Environmental Police and Boston Emergency Medical Services responded and rescued Mr. Denver and six other passengers from the water. Five of those individuals were transported by ambulance to area hospitals. 

First responders were not able to locate Ms. Julce during their rescue operation. Her body was finally recovered at approximately 10 a.m. later that same day. She was pronounced deceased.

An investigation into the crash was undertaken by detectives assigned to the Boston Police Department Homicide Unit and Suffolk prosecutors. More information on the case will be disclosed at the arraignment, which is scheduled for Nov. 19.

“Jeanica was a vibrant young woman with a beautiful life ahead of her. She deserved better than to lose everything because of another individual’s recklessness. That her life ended in this manner is heartbreaking. My office is here to support her loved ones and the surviving victims of this crash to ensure they receive the support and resources they deserve,” District Attorney Rollins said.

Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Rahimi of District Attorney Rollins led the grand jury proceedings resulting in yesterday’s indictments. Edith Ayuso is the assigned Victim Witness Advocate.

All charged individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.