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Highlands Today

Family Remembers Woman Killed 2 Years Ago In Boating Accident

Kathy Waters/Highlands Today

Steve Martin of Sebring pauses a moment before throwing rose petals into Lake Jackson on Wednesday in Sebring. His family gathered to remember his daughter, Ruth Marie Martin, who died in a boating accident in 2006.

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By Gary Pinnell | Highlands Today

Published: June 20, 2008

VIDEO: Remembering Ruth Marie Martin

SEBRING — They threw rose petals into Lake Jackson, and the wind from an evening storm floated them back.

Betty Martin said a prayer for her niece, Ruth Marie, and for "people who have brought harm toward Marie."

Wednesday, said Ruth Marie's Martin's father, Steve Martin of Sebring, would have been her 21st birthday. Last year and this year, 14 family members gathered to remember her in the same way, throwing in rose petals at Veteran's Beach, just a quarter-mile south of where she died on July 15, 2006.

The reference to "people who have brought us harm," said Betty Martin, was a prayer for William James Barbour, 38, 3920 Lakeview Dr., who pled guilty May 20 to reckless operation of a vessel. Ruth Marie was one of three people a plastic raft towed behind Barbour's boat when it accidentally crashed into another boat, moored by a dock in front of his house.

"It's hard to pray for your enemies," said Betty Martin, "but we have to do it. Until they ask God to forgive them."

Steve Martin said a civil case is being contemplated against Barbour and Florida Fish & Wildlife, which official records admit may have botched the investigation against Barbour. A Sebring police officer noticed an alcohol odor on Barbour immediately after the accident, but FF&W officers allowed him inside his house alone for 30 minutes, and they allowed his wife to drive him to the sheriff's office for a breath test. During that time, said State's Attorney Steve Houchin, Barbour consumed two tumblers of whiskey.

Barbour admitted to officers that he had drank two or three beers earlier in the day. But since the state couldn't prove his blood-alcohol content was .08 or greater at the time of the accident, Houchin dropped the charge of boating under the influence-manslaughter, and Barbour pled guilty for reckless operation of a boat, and was sentenced to 60 days in jail.

"We're looking for a good attorney," Steve Martin said.

The case attracted national attention this week, said Betty Martin. Two Tampa television stations called after they noticed a Highlands Today story. So did CNN and Headline News Network, both in Atlanta.

Ruth Marie, said her aunt Betty, was a tall, sweet, lovely girl. "She was like an angel on earth. She had a snow-white complexion. She was a very generous girl." She had three children. She worked as a waitress at the Sunset Grille, the Village Inn and other Highlands County restaurants.

As they left the boat channel and stood at the top of the boat dock, Ruth Marie's family noticed a rainbow.

"Look, at where it ends. It's over the water," said one family member. They took it as a good sign.

Attorney: Barbour's Sentence Was Fair
SEBRING — William Barbour was not drunk at the time of the boating accident where Ruth Marie Martin was killed, his attorney said Thursday.

"This is total garbage," said William Fletcher, a Sebring attorney.

"The man had nothing to drink since noon, possibly two beers. And the accident happened at 5:45," Fleming said. He quoted a report from Florida Fish & Wildlife investigator Michael Frantz, in which a Sebring Police officer noted Barbour had a slight odor of alcohol, which had disappeared a short time later.

"There was no probable cause to give him a Breathalyzer," Fletcher said.

The attorney said it was questionable whether Barbour even caused the accident. "There were people on that tube, steering the tube."

Other officers and State's Attorney Steve Houchin blamed Lt. Dale Knapp for allowing Barbour to go inside his house, and for letting Barbour's wife drive him to the sheriff's office for a breath test.

However, Fletcher said, "Dale Knapp didn't do anything wrong, because he didn't have probable cause."
Barbour was sentenced to 60 days in Highlands County Jail, but he is currently on work release, Fletcher said.

"That was a fair disposition of the case, based on the facts," Fletcher said.

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