FWC – NBC 6 South Florida

A boat of interest linked to the death of a 15-year-old girl who was struck and killed while water skiing in Biscayne Bay over the weekend has been found, authorities said Tuesday.

A boat matching the description of the boat that struck and killed Ella Riley Adler Saturday afternoon was in custody and its owner was cooperating with the investigation, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said Tuesday.

“I am pleased to report that we have a vessel in custody that matches the description provided by the witnesses, and the investigation is ongoing,” FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said in a statement. “As a father and grandfather, my heart breaks for the Adler family. Ella’s death is devastating for her family, friends and the community at large. The FWC and our partner law enforcement agencies will not stop until we have all the answers and the case is solved.”

Aerial footage from Chopper 6 showed the boat docked behind a home in the Hammock Oaks neighborhood in southwest Miami-Dade on Tuesday.

Officials confirmed they were able to find the boat thanks to an eyewitness. The identity of the owner has not been released and it is unknown if the owner was driving the boat during the incident.

The fatal incident occurred at the Nixon Beach Sandbar off Key Biscayne at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Officials said Adler was not actively water skiing but was being towed when she fell into the water. Then she was hit by another boat and fled the scene of the accident.

The boat in question was last seen heading west from Nixon Beach and was described as a “light blue center console with possible blue or dark blue bottom paint and three or four white outboard motors,” FWC officials said.

The boat seen Tuesday had four engines and matched that description.

The young girl who was struck and killed by a large fishing boat while water skiing in Biscayne Bay Saturday afternoon has been identified. NBC6’s Amanda Plasencia reports.

Adler, a student at Ransom Everglades School, died from her injuries.

As a member of the school’s dance team, Adler was an accomplished ballet artist and ballerina in The Nutcracker, where he performed in over 100 performances with the Miami City Ballet at the Adrienne Arsht Center.

During her funeral Monday, NBC6 spoke with her best friend’s father, who was with Adler when she was hit and killed.

“A great dancer, my daughter’s best friend, a terrible loss,” Loren Pierson said. “She had such a bright future, very sad.”

FWC officials said they worked around the clock to find the stricken boat. The incident remains under investigation.