Press Releases
12/01/2023
EnCon Police Make Arrest in Fatal Boating Accident
(HARTFORD) — The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police arrested an individual in connection with the fatal boating accident that occurred on July 10, 2022, on the Connecticut River in Portland. An extensive investigation was conducted by EnCon officers and the department’s Boating Accident Reconstruction Unit (BARU) leading to the arrest.
On Friday, December 1, 2023, the Connecticut Superior Court in Middletown issued an arrest warrant for Kerry Sheltra (DOB: 08/27/68) of Rocky Hill, CT. He was subsequently arrested and processed by the EnCon Police and released on a $50,000 bond.
Sheltra was charged with the following: one count of CGS 53a-56(a)(1) Manslaughter in the Second Degree, three counts of CGS 53a-60(a)(3) Assault in the Second Degree, and two counts of CGS 53-21(a)(1) Risk of Injury to a Minor.
He is expected to be at court on December 7, 2023, at Geographical Area Court 9 in Middletown.
At approximately 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 10, 2022, the Portland Fire Department and EnCon Police responded to a report of a serious boating accident in the Connecticut River just north of Petzolds Marina. The investigation determined that eight individuals were on board the vessel that Sheltra was operating when it collided with shore. The collision resulted in the death of one adult on board. Two people on board sustained serious life-altering injuries, and three others were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
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DEEP Communications
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
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