Flight Attendant Found Dead on South Florida Beach

Officials say 31-year-old Kellie Melinda Williams was likely struck by a boat near Hollywood Beach
Posted Jun 9, 2026 10:24 AM CDT
Flight Attendant Found Dead on South Florida Beach
Stock photo.   (Getty Images/Julie Deshaies)

The body of a 31-year-old American Airlines flight attendant has been found on a South Florida beach, and wildlife officials say her injuries suggest she was hit by a boat, reports ABC News. Kellie Melinda Williams was discovered in the surf near Hollywood Beach around 8pm on Wednesday after two fishermen spotted her near North Boardwalk and alerted authorities. "Two fishermen were fishing right off the beach, and I saw them from my window pulling something, then I saw them drag something onto the shoreline," witness Emilio Benitez tells NBC6. "And it turned out to be a lady's body."

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says it believes Williams may have been snorkeling or diving beforehand. Williams, originally from California, worked as a flight attendant for American Airlines, which said it was "deeply saddened" by her death. The incident remains under investigation.

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