The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE FATHER of a young American woman killed in a boating accident off the coast of Bimini last year said he is “saddened and disappointed” of the handling of his daughter’s case by local police.

Christian de Mazieres said his family still hasn’t come to grips with circumstances surrounding the death of his 25-year-old daughter, Paloma de Mazieres, because they haven’t received any closure in the matter.

Mr de Mazieres claimed that the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) has made the “toughest time” his family has ever had to face “far worse” due to the poor handling of the investigation.

He said in the 11 months following the accident, he and members of his family have received “little to no updates” on the progress of the matter.

“It took us three weeks to get her body following the crash, then there was the autopsy ordeal and now we have the issue with the results with the blood alcohol test for the man controlling the boat.

“It has been one issue after the other. It’s hard to come to grips with my daughter’s death because we haven’t had time to properly grieve dealing with this prolonged ordeal,” he said.

Paloma de Mazieres, of Key Biscayne, Florida was spending Memorial Day in The Bahamas with friends when she was killed in a boating accident.

The police investigation into the sobriety of the boat’s driver remains open, however, the young woman’s family yesterday asserted that police are “dragging their heels”.

“Three times we have been promised the result of the blood alcohol test, still nothing.

“We have taken trips to The Bahamas, met with investigators time after time and still nothing.

“We just want to bring a conclusion in this matter,” her father said.

The young woman’s family held an at-sea memorial yesterday to commemorate what would have been her 26th birthday.

The family led a three boat fleet to a spot three miles off the coast of Key Biscayne, where they released doves and scattered flowers in her memory.

A group of Paloma’s friends placed a starfish shaped memorial on the ocean floor, containing her ashes.

Paloma, at the time of her death, was studying fashion design. She often volunteered with local charities helping put together proms for children that suffered from cancer.

The de Mazieres family has filed a civil suit against the boat driver, George Prendes Jr, in the United States Federal Court.

The family’s lawyer, Judd Rosen, confirmed that no formal charges have been filed in The Bahamas.