Lawrence Shieh is accused of steering a stolen boat head-on into a Logan International Airport runway approach pier in the middle of the night, killing 24-year-old Elizabeth "Lizzie" Dankert and launching her and two friends onto shoreline rocks, authorities said.
Background
Shieh, 40, met Dankert and her two companions at a Boston bar on May 13, according to Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden. After Shieh's own friends departed the establishment, he struck up a conversation with the three women and offered to take them to his boat club, authorities said. The club permits members to operate vessels on Boston Harbor but explicitly prohibits nighttime excursions.
Shieh allegedly took the boat—which he did not own—out onto the water around midnight with all three women aboard. The vessel lacked exterior lighting that would have illuminated the dark waters ahead, prosecutors said. Shieh piloted the craft in a restricted zone near Logan International Airport where boats are prohibited from traveling.
Cellphone videos recorded by passengers captured Shieh's behavior leading up to the crash: inattentiveness at the helm, dancing with the women, and engaging socially with his guests. In approximately six seconds before impact, footage showed Shieh with both hands completely off the boat's steering wheel, according to prosecutors.
The Charges
Surveillance video confirmed the boat struck the runway approach pier nearly head-on at approximately 36 mph—described by authorities as an excessive speed for the conditions. Upon impact, all three women were thrown backward violently. Dankert suffered a fatal injury to the back of her skull. Shieh and the two surviving women sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Shieh has been charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter, one count of operating a boat while intoxicated causing death, and two counts of operating a boat while intoxicated and causing serious injury, according to the Suffolk District Attorney's Office. His blood alcohol concentration measured 0.20—more than twice the legal limit for boating in Massachusetts.
Shieh pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment and was ordered held on $25,000 bond. He remains incarcerated pending further proceedings.
Key Takeaways
- Elizabeth "Lizzie" Dankert was a 24-year-old English major at Union College who played collegiate soccer
- Lawrence Shieh allegedly stole the boat from its owner at the boat club where he was a member
- The crash occurred in a prohibited zone near Logan International Airport runway approach
- Prosecutors cited cellphone video evidence showing Shieh's hands off the wheel seconds before collision
- Dankert's family expressed hope that accountability would bring some measure of justice
What's Next
Shieh is scheduled to appear in Suffolk County Superior Court on October 8 for a pre-trial hearing. The investigation remains ongoing, and prosecutors have indicated they may pursue additional charges as evidence develops. Dankert's family has retained legal representation and released a statement expressing their grief while acknowledging progress in the criminal proceedings.