A speedboat captain has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter following a crash off Italy's Amalfi Coast that killed the president of Bloomsbury Publishing's US branch, Adrienne Vaughan.
Elio Persico, 32, was found to have alcohol and cocaine in his system after the collision on August 3, 2024. Vaughan, 45, was thrown overboard and struck by the propeller when the speedboat she was on hit a 130-foot sailboat. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Vaughan's husband, Mike White, who was injured and required surgery, told authorities that Persico had been distracted by his phone. Witnesses reported seeing Persico vomit after the crash, suggesting he was drunk. White described Vaughan as a beloved mother and wife, saying her death has devastated the family.
Bloomsbury CEO Nigel Newton paid tribute to Vaughan, calling her a natural business leader who helped make the US the company's biggest market. The company, known for publishing the Harry Potter series, expressed deep condolences.
