Florida real estate developer George Pino may raise brain injury-related amnesia in fatal boat crash trial, report says

Grethel Aguila and David Goodhue, Miami Herald on Mar 18, 2026

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MIAMI — A doctor examined George Pino, the Doral real estate developer who crashed his boat into a fixed channel marker, killing a teenage girl and seriously injuring her classmate, to determine if he suffered a traumatic brain injury that caused him to have amnesia and “false memories regarding the details of the accident,” according to a document obtained by the Miami Herald.

Attorneys for Pino consulted with Dr. Diana Barrat, a Boca Raton neurologist who is expected to be an expert witness in the case, according to the records obtained by the Herald.

Barrat’s 18-page report — which is heavily redacted — was turned over to prosecutors on Monday. It indicates defense attorneys may plan to present evidence at trial about Pino suffering a traumatic brain injury as a result of the 2022 Labor Day weekend crash.

Among the questions asked of Barrat by defense attorneys: “[C]ould the traumatic brain injury have caused amnesia and the creation of false memories regarding the details of the accident?”

Her answer was redacted in the report.

Barrat assessed Pino on Feb. 2, according to the document. The doctor analyzed scans of Pino’s brain and reviewed several of his medical records.

Facing two felony charges

Pino, 55, is facing manslaughter and vessel homicide charges. Those felonies carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, although he can’t be convicted of both charges.

Representatives for Pino’s attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the document.

The charges are the result of the boat crash leading to the death of 17-year-old Luciana “Lucy” Fernandez, who was starting her senior year at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy. The Sept. 4, 2022, crash also seriously brain injured her classmate, Katerina “Katy” Puig, now 20, a standout soccer player still regaining basic motor skills.

Claims of another boat in channel

Pino told investigators that a larger boat, heading toward in the channel that day threw a wake and caused him to lose control of his vessel, and that’s why he hit the channel marker in Biscayne Bay, causing the boat to capsize and for the 12 underage girls on it, along with Pino and his wife, to be thrown into the bay.

But, nobody else, including witnesses on other boats in the crowded channel, and no one on his boat, saw that other vessel.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the state agency that investigated the crash, also determined that boat was likely never there.

Upon hearing about the examination with the brain doctor, Joel Denaro, an attorney for the Fernandez family replied: “Oh, so they’re going for the amnesia defense?”

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for April 13.