Mistrial declared in case of Florida Keys parasailing crash that killed a tourist

Sofia Saric, Miami Herald on Aug 4, 2026

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MIAMI — A judge declared a mistrial Monday in the federal case of a Florida Keys parasailing boat captain, who is accused of voluntary manslaughter and seaman’s manslaughter, court records show.

Daniel Couch was operating a boat on May 30, 2022, when he cut the tow-line to three parasailers during a thunderstorm. An Illinois mother was killed, and two children were injured after the wind slammed them into a bridge.

Couch, 53, pleaded not guilty to the charges, federal court records show. His trial began on July 27, and jurors couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict on the two charges after more than 10 hours of deliberations.

The jury was dismissed Monday, and the case will be reset for trial, records show.

Couch was captaining a 31-foot boat out of Marathon, towing Supraja Alaparthi, 33, her son, who was 10 years old at the time, and her then 9-year-old nephew. Investigators said it was difficult for Couch and his mate to lower them after a storm caused a snag in the parasail.

Couch cut the tow-line, and the wind dragged the parasail with the family attached for around three miles until they slammed into the Old Seven Mile Bridge, investigators said.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigators alleged Couch didn’t take his boat to the bridge to try and free them while a commercial flats fishing guide rescued the family. Alaparthi was pronounced dead on shore by paramedics, investigators said. Her son had minor injures, and her nephew was seriously injured.

A new trial date hadn’t been announced yet.

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Miami Herald staff reporter David Goodhue contributed to this report.

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