Diver died while tangled in propeller off Florida, feds say. Boat captain found guilty

Miami Herald

07-03-2025

The captain of a diving boat has been found guilty of seaman's manslaughter after one of his passengers died tangled up in the propeller, according to federal prosecutors in Florida.
Dustin Sean McCabe, 49, of Ocala, faces the possibility of 20 years in prison on charges associated with the operation, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida said in a March 6 news release.
McClatchy News reached out to McCabe's attorney for comment on March 7 but didn't receive an immediate response.
The victim was identified as Mollie Ghiz-Flynn, 37, and she died March 29, 2020, at the Breakers Reef dive site, 1.5 miles off Palm Beach Inlet, maritime attorney Michael A. Winkleman reported in a news release. She was accompanied by her husband, Sean Flynn, he said.
'Mollie and Sean were finishing their first dive when they were waved over to the boat by Dustin McCabe. McCabe put the boat in reverse and both divers were sucked under and Mollie's legs became entangled in the propellers,' Winkleman said in the release.
'Along with the help of several other individuals, Sean was able to free Mollie from the propellers, but it was too late.'
An investigation revealed the propeller 'twisted her leg up in its shaft, holding her underwater.'
'A medical examiner testified that while the victim's many deep chop wounds and leg fractures were not fatal on their own, they caused serious pain that contributed to the victim's death by drowning,' federal officials said.
McCabe's trial was held in Fort Pierce and a jury found him guilty of 'seaman's manslaughter (both in his capacity as boat owner and boat captain of the vessel named Southern Comfort), lying to the Coast Guard, and committing COVID-19 pandemic relief fraud,' officials said.
Among the revelations made during the trial: McCabe was illegally running 'paid scuba charters' with his boat, and the same propeller had nearly injured someone the day before Ghiz-Flynn died, officials said.
'On March 28, 2020 ... the Southern Comfort experienced significant mechanical malfunctions that included one of the vessel's port side propeller engaging when the vessel was in neutral during the pickup of a diver, which led to the diver being sucked toward the propeller and narrowly escaping,' federal officials said.
'Despite the close calls, McCabe took more paying divers out the next day, on March 29, 2020, without reporting the prior day's incidents to the Coast Guard, warning his passengers of what had occurred, or fixing the boat.'
The diver's death resulted in McCabe being prohibited from operating his boat, and he 'was never again seen working at the marina,' federal officials said.
Additional charges were added after McCabe falsely listed his business as operational while applying for two loans from a COVID-19 federal relief program created to help small businesses during the pandemic, officials said. His applications included 'fake tax documents to support the lie,' officials said.
McCabe's sentencing is scheduled for June 12 and he 'faces up to 10 years in prison for seaman's manslaughter, up to five years for making false statements, and up to 20 years for wire fraud,' officials said.