In the early morning hours of January 14, 2024, members of the United States Marshals Service apprehended Alen Gorishti, 33, in Miami, Florida in connection to the death of a Washington Township man. Gorishti was wanted by the U.S. Coast Guard in Ohio for his involvement in a fatal boating incident that claimed the life of a local fisherman.
The incident occurred on November 6, 2016, when a boat operated by Alen Gorishti collided with another boat anchored approximately 2 miles off the coast of Fairport Harbor, Ohio. The impact ejected two men from the second boat into the waters of Lake Erie. While one survivor was rescued by USCG Station in Fairport Harbor, the other individual remained missing. The search was suspended the next day, and the missing boater, identified as Roger R. Burton from Washington Twp in Stark County, was later located and recovered on January 14, 2017.
Following extensive investigations by the Cuyahoga and Ashtabula County Coroner’s Office, the remains were positively identified as Burton. Subsequently, on November 3, 2021, the U.S. Coast Guard charged Alen Gorishti with seaman’s manslaughter and false statements in federal court in the Northern District of Ohio.
After discovering Gorishti living in Canada and having recently traveled to Colombia, members of the U.S. Marshals Service arrested him during his return flight when he laid over in Miami, Florida.
U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott commended the collaborative efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Marshals Service, and international law enforcement in Canada and Colombia. He stated, “Outstanding cooperation between agencies resulted in the long-awaited arrest of this suspect. Law enforcement hopes this arrest brings some justice to the victim’s family.”
Gorishti is expected to remain in southern Florida until extradition proceedings transport him back to northern Ohio to face the charges against him.