Father sues two for wrongful death in Taney County after boating accident killed son

TANEY COUNTY, Mo. — A man is suing two people after a 2024 boating accident involving a propeller caused his son to die. According to online court dockets, Jacob Edmonds, born 1995, of Joplin, is suing Bethany and Donald Roy, of Carthage and Joplin, respectively, for wrongful death in Taney County Circuit Court. According to the two-count petition, Edmonds is the father of Reuben Roy, a 7-year-old boy who died on July 26, 2024, from fatal injuries in a boating accident. The petition says on July 26, 2024, Donald Roy and his daughter, Bethany Roy — who is Reuben's mother — were boating with Reuben on Table Rock Lake. Bethany — who was operating the 1999 Maxum marine motorboat owned by Donald — allegedly had less than 10 hours of experience operating a boat of any kind, as well as having no formal instruction in boating safety, the petition says. The petition says while Reuben was knee boarding on the lake and being towed by the boat, he fell into the water and began to swim toward the boat. Bethany put the boat into reverse, moving it closer to Reuben, the petition says. She attempted to pick Reuben up from the rear of the boat instead of the side, which exposed him to the boat's propeller. Reuben was ultimately struck by the propeller and killed, per the petition. The petition's first count alleges Bethany was negligent in several factors, including failing to turn off the boat's engine. The second count of the petition alleges Donald was negligent in entrusting the boat to her. Summons have been issued for the lawsuit.