Larry Moreau, 41, of Hartsburg, Mo., said that he, his wife and their 14-year-old son were cruising in their boat at more than 30 mph when they saw Piercy’s patrol boat pass them. Minutes later, they saw Ellingson treading water near Piercy’s idling patrol boat and apparently talking to Piercy. Moreau said the life jacket was about 5 to 6 feet away from Ellingson. He said they told investigators that they left because Piercy didn’t appear to be acting with urgency, so they thought the matter was under control.

He and his wife talked to investigators but weren’t asked to testify at the inquest.

“After I read what came out of the inquest, I was a little concerned that what we had witnessed didn’t seem to get included,” Moreau said.

A water taxi captain who stayed at the scene and tried to help testified at the inquest. He and a passenger on his boat said they thought Piercy did all he could to save Ellingson.

In response to the criticisms from the couple, Grellner said, “I gave far more weight to those who were actually there and stayed and those who had a far more firsthand account than those who left.”

Also Monday, Grellner, in response to a records request from the Post-Dispatch, released the names of the six Morgan County residents who served on the jury. They are Julie Brown, Cecil Banner, Megan Rowland, Brad Bauer, Herbert Keck and Amy Todd.

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