Texas Father Indicted For Daughter’s Death After Being Hit By Boat Propeller

A Texas father has been indicted for criminally negligent homicide in the death of his 11-year-old daughter. The tragic incident occurred in 2023 at Stillhouse Hollow Lake which is located outside of Killeen in Belton, Texas.

A Bell County grand jury returned an indictment against Joshua Glenn Walls this week.

2023 Boating Accident Kills 11-Year-Old Texas Girl

According to NewsChannel10.com, the boating accident took place just before 8:00 p.m. on July 2, 2023. Emergency crews were called to Stillhouse Hollow Lake in Belton. Crews learned that the young victim had been riding on a tube that was being pulled by the family boat when she fell into the water. The girls father was operating the boat and turned around to pick up his daughter. According to authorities, the propeller of the boat hit the girl and caused fatal injuries as he was returning to pick her up.

Newschannel10.com reported that police did not provide specific reasons why the father was charged with criminally negligent homicide. According to KWTX, the indictment explained a bit further the charge.

“did then and there by criminal negligence cause the death of an individual, Zoey Walls, by accelerating a motor propelled boat causing the boat rotor blade to strike Zoey Walls.”

The document further states, “it is further presented that a deadly weapon, namely a boat, was used or exhibited during the commission of the charged offense and that the defendant used and exhibited the deadly weapon.”

Walls was booked this week at the Bell County Jail with a $50,000 bond.