Tracy Gordon, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a deadly 2019 boat crash on Lake Murray, was denied parole on Wednesday, August 26. Gordon will remain in the custody of the State Department of Corrections, with a projected release date in May 2028.
Gordon was piloting a boat on Lake Murray in September 2019 when it collided with a boat carrying the Kiser family. The crash resulted in the death of Stan Kiser, severe injury to his wife Shawn Kiser, who lost a leg, and injuries to their daughter. Gordon was found not guilty of boating under the influence charges during his 2023 trial but was convicted of reckless homicide by boat.
During the parole hearing, Gordon and his attorney, Joe McCulloch, presented their case via teleconference. McCulloch argued that Gordon’s conduct record and leadership within the prison system supported his return to society. Gordon offered condolences to the Kiser family, stating he prays for them daily and receives respect from other inmates.
The Kiser family attended the hearing, pleading with the parole board to deny an early release. Morgan Kiser, Stan Kiser’s daughter, expressed distress over the possibility of Gordon serving less than six years for her father’s death and her mother’s injury. Shawn Kiser emphasized the lasting sadness and disruption the incident caused their family, urging the board to keep Gordon incarcerated. Sloan Kiser, another daughter, stated that the family is suffering a life sentence while Gordon could be released in five years or less.
Since the 2019 crash, the Kiser family has advocated for stronger state DUI laws. According to the Department of Natural Resources, a felony BUI with death can carry a fine up to $25,000, 1 to 25 years in prison, and a three-year boating suspension. Tre Baker, the responding officer in the crash, suggested that stricter fines and more jail time upon conviction could strengthen regulations for those operating vehicles under the influence.
