Joseph Patrick Dugat, a 45-year-old man from Marathon, FL, was found dead on July 25, 2020. His body was discovered in a dinghy at the mooring marina in Boot Key Harbor. Dugat, who lived on anchor at Boot Key Harbor, was shot multiple times, including in the face, head, and arm. The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. on a Saturday night when Monroe County sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of shots fired at the marina.
Christopher W.
Davis, a 59-year-old man who also lived on a boat anchored at Boot Key Harbor, was arrested and charged with Dugat's murder. Davis confessed to the shooting, stating that he had ongoing issues with a group of liveaboards, including Dugat. Davis claimed he feared the group was vandalizing his boat and believed they were going to set it on fire. He also mentioned that members of the group had threatened him, saying he would be a "dead man."
On the night of the incident, Davis saw Dugat approaching his sailboat in a dinghy. Davis asked Dugat if he was armed, and when Dugat raised his arm, Davis thought he saw a pistol and shot him several times with a 12-gauge shotgun and a .22-caliber rifle. Davis continued to shoot Dugat even after he saw him slump over, fearing that Dugat might still pose a threat.
Davis was booked into the Stock Island Detention Center and remained in custody without bond. The case highlighted the tensions and conflicts among the liveaboard community in Boot Key Harbor. The investigation into Dugat's death and the subsequent arrest of Davis brought attention to the challenges faced by individuals living on boats in the area.
