Family that we killed their son. Ryan s. Brandon Ellingsons death on missouris lake of the ozarks was ruled an accidental drowning. But nearly a year and a half later a former water patrol , supervisor is speaking out. As soon as Brandon Ellingson got onto tony piercys boat, i believe it was a death march. Ryan s. sgt. Randy henry of the missouri Highway Patrol was working that night and interviewed trooper Anthony Piercy immediately after the accident. This happened on our watch. It shouldnt have happened. It was totally preventable, and it was a cover up. Ryan s. may 2014 trooper piercy arrests ellingson for boating while intoxicated. Those critical moments after on the Highway Patrol boat have been criticized by brandons family and spurred legislative hearings. Trooper piercy admits he placed the wrong life jacket on ellingson who was handcuffed when he went overboard. He was totally defenseless in that boat. Ryan s. sgt. Henry says the Highway Patrol hid key evidence during a coron