Poplar Bluff woman acquitted in fatal boating accident

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- A Carter County jury deliberated for three hours Wednesday before acquitting a Poplar Bluff, Mo., woman of charges in connection with a 2009 boating accident on the Current River.

Radeena Proffer, 29, was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter with a vessel, three counts of second-degree assault with a vessel and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

Less than a half-hour before the jury announced it had reached a verdict, Presiding Circuit Judge David Evans cleared the courtroom because the jurors' deliberations were becoming loud enough to be heard.

As the verdict was read, Proffer's family members and friends let out cheers and made comments, such as "thank you God" and "yes."

On the other side of the courtroom, members of the victims' family sat in silence. They remained seated after court adjourned and Proffer's family and friends began hugging her and one another.

Proffer had been charged in connection with a two-boat collision on July 5, 2009, near Worley's Rock that left Josh Burson, 25, and Jerry Mote, 11, dead and three others injured.

"I think Radeena and her whole family are relieved that this whole ordeal that has lasted for three years has come to an end," said her attorney, Danny Moore. "This is a very tragic and sad set of circumstances."

The jury, Moore said, found it was an accident, and accidents happen.

"There was no criminal liability ever in this case," Moore said. "I think the state had rushed to judgment on this because of the enormity of it, the two deaths."

Moore's co-counsel, Steve Walsh, said it was an emotional case.

"Our client lost a 10-year-old boy that she considered a nephew," Walsh said. "She is scarred for life."

Proffer, Walsh said, is "really sympathetic to the family of Josh Burson. Obviously, she is sorry that this happened, but it was just that, a tragic accident."

Proffer, Walsh said, only had five hours of experience in operating a boat.

Pertinent address:

Van Buren, MO