Woman presumed dead in Florida Keys yacht fire identified. Two others hospitalized
A 51-year-old woman is presumed to have died following a boat fire Wednesday morning at a marina near Key West, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Linda Vella of St. Petersburg likely died when a 70-foot Viking yacht went up in flames around 12:10 a.m. at the Perry Hotel & Marina, 7101 Shrimp Rd., on Stock Island.
Vella’s husband and son — Michael Kenneth Robson, 58, and Anthony Joseph Vella, 21, — were airlifted to a hospital in Miami. Another family of four was also on the vessel but escaped uninjured.
On Wednesday night, the sheriff’s office released Vella’s name but said its dive team and other crews were still searching for her.
Kristen Livengood, Monroe County Fire Rescue spokeswoman said the blaze was extinguished around 3 a.m. The yacht is now in ruins.
The state Fire Marshal and Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Detectives are investigating the cause of the fire.
This story was originally published July 26, 2023 at 10:35 AM.
