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Marco boat survivor seeks split from father

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A 17-year-old North Naples girl who is the sole survivor of a January boat crash that killed four people on Big Marco Pass has filed a petition to be emancipated from her father because she said he has denied her access to thousands of dollars raised for the family after the crash.

Jennifer Molter

Jennifer Molter

However, the teen’s father, Alan Molter, claims his daughter, Jennifer, is lying and is being taught to do so by her grandfather.

Jennifer Molter, whose mother, sister and brother were killed in the crash along with her sister’s fiance, filed a petition for removal of disabilities of nonage — emancipation — on Oct. 5, according to court records. The petition states that Jennifer’s father “has kicked her out of her house and he supplies no funds whatsoever to her, despite funds being available for her after the accidental death of her Mother.”

Jennifer, who earns $8 an hour working part time at Straight from New York Bagels in North Naples, earned her GED last year and is a freshman at Edison College.

Jennifer said she has been living with her grandparents, Bill and Sonja Stelzer, 15099 Summit Place Circle, since Alan Molter kicked her out of the house in early July.

“My dad isn’t supporting me and we no longer speak to each other,” Jennifer said. “It’s so hard to do anything because I am still a minor. ... He doesn’t want anything to do with me and I feel the same way. I don’t want to be his daughter and I don’t want him to have control of me.”

Jennifer said her father kicked her out of the house shortly after he was arrested on a charge of battery after fighting with her boyfriend, Chaz Tierney.

An arrest report said Alan Molter grabbed Tierney’s throat while they were playing pool inside his home, 15095 Summit Place Circle. Alan Molter said he was the one who was attacked.

“He came over three nights in a row trying to fight with me,” Alan Molter said.

The charge was eventually dropped, but Alan Molter said his throat still hurts. He also said he never kicked Jennifer out of the house.

“I told her she can’t drink in my house. That’s why she moved out,” Alan Molter said. “Her being an adult, that would be a real good thing. She thinks she is because the last four years she’s been doing anything she wants.”

Family members say more than $30,000 was raised for the “Molter Family Fund” after the boat crash.

Jennifer said she needs money from the fund to purchase a car because right now she shares one with her grandparents. The petition states Jennifer “cannot drive to school or work and relies on others for transportation.”

“I’m not greedy or anything,” Jennifer said. “I don’t care what he does with the money because I know he’s not doing anything productive with it. But I need a car.”

Alan Molter said the money is being used to try to pay the $2,400 a month mortgage on his house, which he said is going to be foreclosed on. He said Bill Stelzer, who lives next door, refinanced his house without his knowledge.

“That money was supposed to be to take care of that house as long as the money lasts,” Alan Molter said. “There’s only a little left.”

Stelzer insists he couldn’t refinance the house because the mortgage isn’t in his name, Instead, he said Alan Molter’s wife, Linda Molter, who was killed in the Marco crash, refinanced the house.

“That’s completely a lie like everything else,” Bill Stelzer said of Alan Molter’s claim.

Bill Stelzer said he paid the down payment and the closing costs on Alan Molter’s house.

Bill Stelzer has also filed a lawsuit against Alan Molter, claiming he paid $14,000 to pay off the loan on a car owned by his granddaughter, Meagan Molter, who was also killed in the Marco boat crash. Stelzer claims he and Alan Molter had an agreement that if Stelzer paid off the loan he would get the title of the car. Alan Molter has refused to sign the car over to Stelzer, the lawsuit claims.

Alan Molter said Bill Stelzer is a bad influence on his daughter.

“Bill’s a crook and my daughter is getting taught how to lie,” Alan Molter said.

Bill Stelzer said the law is on his and Jennifer’s side.

“It’s a horrible mess,” he said. “I just don’t know what to do about it.”

The boat crash and the subsequent fighting has torn the family apart, said Gina Molter, Alan Molter’s sister-in-law. She called Jennifer a “lost soul” who needs counseling and said Alan Molter hasn’t stolen any money from the fund.

“Every dollar is up and up,” Gina Molter said. “There is no story. There is no story. I’m telling you there is no story.”

A Fort Myers offshore boating group held a fundraiser for Jennifer in February and raised about $25,000 for the teen. That money is in a trust fund and is being used to pay for Jennifer’s education, said Bob Barnhart, who organized the event.

“We’ve paid for her tuition,” Barnhart said. “We’ve paid for her books. And there have been some requests for help with transportation costs to school and we’re going to help with that.”

If she is emancipated, Jennifer said she plans to file a lawsuit so she can have access to the “Molter Family Fund.” Ann Frank, Jennifer’s attorney, said that once Alan Molter is served with the petition he’ll have 21 days to respond.

“I think she has a very good chance of being emancipated,” Frank said. “It’s left in the hands of the good judges to make that decision.”

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