Beach Party Gone Wrong

Beach Party Gone Wrong

By: Brittany Schaefer

A beach party quickly evolved into fatality Sunday night for a high school teenage girl. After deciding to take a late night swim, Chrissie Watson, 17, was found dead, washed upon South Beach after suffering a tragic death.

Also, a fun day at the beach turned into something someone would have never suspected. An hour ago Alex Kintner, 10, had been floating on a rubber raft off a crowded Village Beach at 2 p.m. when what appeared to be another shark attacked. The pool of red spread into the ocean as kids and parents shrieked to get out of the waters. The immense amount of blood was all that was found of Kintner. 

The raft was all that was left, which floated ashore shortly after the attack. His damaged raft floated ashore shortly after the incident with what appeared to be a large bite out of it.

The cause of Watson's untimely death appeared to be by a brutal shark attack. Watson was last seen by another teen at the beach party, a male identified as Christopher P. Hoggenbottam III, at 11 p.m. He is a sophomore at Trinity College and a former local of the island.

Both teenagers had been drinking heavily and possibly smoking marijuana during the evening, as police investigators were told from witnesses.

Watson, of 23 Sharkstooth St., Amity, a senior at Amity High School was highly involved at her school. As told by Hoggenbottam, Watson was a member of the varsity swim team and a life guard at the Amity Island YMCA pool in Oak Bluffs, therefore the calm seas along with her high swim capability ruled out drowning, along with her severely distorted and mangled appearance Monday morning.

The weather was clear, temperature of 72 degrees F, and the seas were relaxed. Water temperature was 65 degrees. Winds were out of the south at about 3 knots.

Townspeople are to take precaution of swimming in these waters. Watson has been severely mauled by an attacker of unknown origin. Do not swim alone or at night when the waters are dark, residents and visitors still may swim at our lovely beaches.

We believe it may be possible that Watson's death could also be linked to Kintner's as a victim of a shark attack. But the investigation is ongoing.

As of now, Watson’s body has been transported to the cornoer’s office for autopsy. No charges have been files in the case, and police are still continuing their investigation into the incident. Police are also still searching for young Kintner's body. Amity mayor, Larry Vaughn is expressing sincere condolences for the Kintner family. "The senseless violence, victimizing innocent, helpless citizens, do not just happen in the city."