Man charged in deadly Harris Lake boat accident sentenced to a minimum of 12 years in prison

Key Points:

• Quinten Kight pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and felony boating while impaired for killing 10-year-old Brooklyn Carroll and seriously injuring Jennifer Stehle in a boating accident on Harris Lake last August.
• Kight was sentenced to a minimum of 12 years in prison and admitted to operating the boat while impaired, striking Brooklyn who was swimming, and hitting Stehle, who survived but required an above-the-knee amputation.
• Emotional statements from Brooklyn’s parents and Stehle highlighted the profound impact of the tragedy, with Brooklyn's family emphasizing the lifelong loss and ongoing pain they endure.
• Investigations revealed a large quantity of alcohol on the boat, and Kight’s blood alcohol concentration was found to be more than double the legal limit hours after the crash; Kight was already on pretrial release for a felony hit-and-run at the time.
• Brooklyn’s family has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit scheduled for trial next August, and they have established a foundation in her memory to promote safe and sober boating.