2 Charged With Negligent Homicide In Kelsey Starling's Death

WINSTON COUNTY, AL — More than a month has passed since Birmingham school teacher Kelsey Starling was involved in a boating accident on Smith Lake. The search for Starling's body has still produced nothing, but the incident has prompted negligent homicide charges against two of the people involved.

Nick Bowling Suggs, 50, and Jodi Wallace Suggs, 50 were both arrested on Wednesday after they were indicted by a Winston County grand jury. They were both on the pontoon boat that collided with the boat carrying Starling.

The attorney for the Suggs, Jason Knight, said his clients deny being at fault.

"It is confounding to us that the Alabama Marine Police officer has now filed charges against the driver of both the vessels involved in this wreck. It makes zero sense," Knight said. "At any rate, the Suggs vehemently deny the misdemeanor charges against them and look forward to being vindicated and put an end to this nightmare. They also want to extend their heartfelt thoughts and prayers to all the families affected by this tragic accident and in particular to Kelsey and the Starling family."

Starling was a passenger in a 2012 Mastercraft wakeboard boat driven by 23-year-old William Jackson Fite of Decatur. Fite was booked into the Winston County Jail July 5 on a charge of boating under the influence.

A GoFundMe campaugn was launched in July to assist in the search efforts for Starling's body.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's Marine Patrol said they believe Starling's body is located in an area of the lake roughly 250 feet deep. Sonar images captured timbers rising as high 100-120 feet from the lake bed.

Because the bottom of Smith Lake consists mostly of tall pine trees, dredging the bottom of the lake is impossible, and finding Starling's body has been a heavy task.

"It's like looking at a forest in the winter time. There's no leaves on it but that's how thick it is," said ALEA Marine Patrol's Corporal Pat Welton in an ABC 33/40 report. "Below 70 feet it's like going into a closet at night and turning the light off."

Starling was a teacher at Birmingham's Tuggle Elementary School.

Note: Patch is a GoFundMe promotional partner.