NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS: Scott Burke's wife, Ellen, 65, found herself on board the 82-foot yacht named the 'Jess Conn' when her husband faced drug trafficking and weapons charges.
Burke, who previously practiced medicine in Denver, Colorado, now lives in an estate in Key Largo, Florida. This area includes the Ocean Reef private club, renowned for its stringent privacy policies.
Burke was charged when authorities discovered cocaine, ketamine and sex workers on the vessel while it was in Nantucket Harbor in Massachusetts.
In 2017, Ellen and her family, including their two children spent the holiday season aboard a similar boat also named the 'Jess Conn'.
What is the 'Jess Conn'?
The 'Jess Conn' is a yacht owned by Burke, seemingly named after his children, Jessica and Connor. This vessel was designed by Jeff Leishman and has four decks, each spanning over 24m in length.
Inside, it offers three spacious guest cabins, an owner's cabin, a laundry room, along with a main saloon and a formal dining room.
The yacht also has a hot tub on board. It has the capacity to accommodate up to eight guests and provides quarters for two crew members.
A woman was overdosing on Scott Burke's yacht
Police were called because a woman on Burke's party yacht said she was overdosing and needed help getting off the boat.
Before authorities arrived, there was a fight between two women on board, as per the NY Post. "These two women were screaming at each other," said a local.
"I think how the police might’ve gotten involved was - not only was the woman being checked out for drug stuff, but there was a screaming match that evidently occurred between a woman on the harbor master’s boat and the launch boat that was either bringing the person back or taking the person to," they added.
Law enforcement received a call reporting that a woman aboard the Jess Conn required "medical assistance," a police statement on Wednesday, September 6, said.
According to a police report, the woman "did not want to be there, was under the influence of narcotics and possibly [had] overdosed."
The report noted that she was discovered in Burke's bedroom on the luxury yacht.
Investigators discovered over 43 grams of cocaine, approximately 14 grams of ketamine, two handguns and additional ammunition in the primary bedroom on the main floor of the yacht.
They also found sex workers on the vessel.
Burke informed the officers that he was the boat's owner and possessed a valid firearms license.
However, upon investigation, it was revealed that Burke's license was only valid in Florida and had expired in September 2022.
Burke entered a not guilty plea during his arraignment at Plymouth District Court on Wednesday, September 6.
Nantucket residents expressed their concern on Friday, noting that while luxury yachts docking in the harbor is a familiar sight, the substantial quantity of drugs and firearms discovered on the retired doctor's boat was highly alarming.
"I mean there are certainly people who have party boats that bring in craziness," a resident said, adding, "The gun side is the most disturbing part, I think. There is no need for that."
