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Two Suspects In Fatal Boating Crash Turn Themselves In
By: Mike Stiles - Saturday, October 5, 2024

(left to right) Zachary and Tasha Adams (photos courtesy of Branch County Sheriff's Office)

(COLDWATER) – Two suspects in a fatal boating crash this summer turned themselves in.

Branch County Undersheriff Keith Eichler says that 44 year old Zachary Adams and 43 year old Tasha Adams, both of Fort Wayne, turned themselves in at the Branch County Jail Thursday. They had both been wanted on warrants that had been issued by the Branch County Prosecutor’s Office.

Zachary Adams is charged with negligent crippling homicide, fourth degree child abuse, false report of a felony, negligent operation of a vessel and reckless skiing. Tasha Adams is facing charges of false report of a felony, accessory after the fact of a felony and conspiracy to commit a false report of a felony.

The Adams are considered suspects in a boating crash that happened August 3 that killed 46 year old Cory Butler of Grabill, Indiana.

According investigators, the collision happened on Coldwater Lake near Pearl Beach between two boats. A boat allegedly driven by a 15 year old from Fort Wayne ended up on top of a boat driven by Butler. Butler was flown to a Kalamazoo hospital where he later died from his injuries.

The first boat had seven other passengers, while three other individuals were on the Butler boat. Some of the individuals had minor injuries.

Both of the Adams were booked into the Branch County Jail. Zachary Adams was able to post his $5,000 bond and Tasha a $2,500 bond and both were released.

They are scheduled to be arraigned October 21 in Branch County District Court.



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