Maybe the supervisor steward thought he may get into trouble having to report a suicide. He has never been named or located, though many believe he found work on a different ship. 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. "It's unconscionable that they won't give up their records and give Ashley's parents the answers they are seeking. After he admitted killing his wife . But when shes found brutally murdered in a lower class cabin, questions revolve around who could have committed such a crime against her. The passports belonged to Hue Pham and Hue Tran.[10]. She disappeared without a trace. None of Merrians family members or friends had any idea shed gone on a cruise, but this wasnt out of character. Why wouldnt the stewards supervisor have sounded an alarm when informed she was missingif he had nothing to hide? 2023 J.H. "The incident was reported to all proper authorities and CARE Team support was offered to fellow travelers and her family," Carnival said. Tenoriowas traveling with [], Katherine Kemp Notable Cruise Industry Death Murder Fred Olsen Cruise Lines EmployeeKatie Kemp Murdered On Monday, August 6, 2018, at approximately 0850 hours, Katherine (Katie) Kemp, 31, from Ipswich, Suffolk was murdered by [], Tamara Loraine Tucker, 50, fromLawson, Missouri, was allegedly murdered byher longtime love, Eric Duane Newman, 53, on Friday, January 19, 2018 during a celebration for her 50th birthday. Sometimes the obvious is the answer. People who are determined and serious about committing suicide are good at hiding sadness. McGill is charged with killing his wife on July 14, the day of his birthday, as the ship steamed home after a stop in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. McGill is charged with killing his wife on July 14, the day of his birthday, as the ship steamed home after a stop in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Her father was a hero. Christopher Caldwell and his fiancee, Crystal Tinder, went on a Carnival cruise in July 2004 to Mexico. It worked. They believe he was murdered. The cover up may not be as mysterious as it seems. Nearly six months later, what happened aboard the ship remains a mystery. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. A retired teacher takes a solo Great Lakes cruise toward a family reunion. On July 14th, 2009, Robert and Shirley were on a five-day Mexican cruise on. Ramiz alerted the crew about her disappearance shortly after arriving at port. When he returned to their cabin, Fariba was not there. The cruise lines are currently losing a massive amount of money daily, with their ships just sitting around. But when a cruise line is at fault or a cruise line member is involved Im sure you get the brick wall. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Forge said the brutal death of Shirley McGill overshadowed her husbands career. Its not good publicity and results in very costly lawsuits. "They're suffering now," McGill was heard saying as he gestured to his family. A German college student working aboard on a cruise ship goes missing at an Alaskan port. Once the cruise ended with no sign of Merrian,Monteiro again raised his concerns with his supervisor, who told him to box up Merrians personal belongings and bring them to his office. Authorities believe that the couple committed suicide by jumping into the sea together. When she showed up he told her where to meet her or he had done something to keep her quiet. He was initially charged with first-degree murder. #inline-recirc-item--id-d44635f2-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Others say that she jumped or fell from the deck. Witnesses aboard the ship claim they saw someone jump overboard around 6:00 AM the day he went missing. Skeletal remains found in Pennsylvania identified as man missing since 2013 True-crime tales of people who never returned home after taking a holiday aboard a cruise ship. A generous tip and a manilla envelope with unknown contents had been left behind, along with all of her belongings, including her only shoes. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased and her family. On Thursday, Robert McGill was sentenced to life in prison by U.S. District Judge Irma Gonzalez, who acknowledged that McGill had led a life dedicated to helping at-risk teens but had to be punished for the murder for which precise motives remain unknown. Unfortunately, when Merrians marriage ended in divorce in 2000 and she lost custody of her daughter, she sank into a deep depression and threatened suicide. It took 26 days after Merrian's disappearance for her to be reported as a missing person and for the search for her to start. To celebrate, she booked the cruise with her boyfriend. During the trial, the cruise line released an official statement to the media, claimingthat Merrian had severe emotional problems, had attempted suicide before, and appears to have committed suicide on our ship. (Suicide is often the excuse when passengers go missing.). Shirleys dead and I killed her, he said, according to the court papers. She didnt have enough close for a full trip. But Barnett's friends and family say Carnival has been stonewalling them. Robert McGill spoke briefly, saying he was remorseful. Pull back the curtain and see how a suspense writer puts the thrills and chills together. Maybe his concern wasnt that genuine and he knew something. ever wonder why cruise ships are not registered in the united states? What a frustrating story. McGill's family, including two adult sons, declined to comment after the hearing, as did Assistant U.S. Attorney Joanna Curtis. i believe this is one of the reasons why. To learn more about how and for what purposes Amazon uses personal information (such as Amazon Store order history), please visit our Privacy Notice. Her poor dad. But just six years later, Robert allegedly murdered Shirley on the bathroom floor of their cruise ship cabin. January 19, 2018. Its so sad, and I also dont think she would have left her daughter. Security officers found a privacy please sign on the locked doorknob. 1 Hue Pham And Hue Tran. (Names and other identifying details were changed on the show for legal reasons.). Moncrieff Breakthrough Entertainment 108K subscribers Subscribe 111K views 1 year ago #BreakthroughEntertainment. She threw a few things into a bag, intending to buy new things in port. He just always said to me, he said, theres more to this story than has been reported.. This was when Carver learned that someonehadcared about his daughter, and he was even more distressed when he discovered that a cruise-line supervisor had brushed off her stewards fears. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? After they were unsuccessful, the United States Coast Guard and the Mexican Navy were alerted and joined the search. "She said, 'I'm terribly, terribly sorry to tell you your daughter passed away today,' " Jamie Barnett told Lagattuta. ", Carnival issued a statement saying, "The situation was handled appropriately and reported to all applicable law enforcement authorities.". He drank heavily in Cabo that day before re-boarding the ship for the trip home. Crime A farmer and his wife take a cruise celebrating their hard work and good fortune in life. Click Customise Cookies to decline these cookies, make more detailed choices, or learn more. She noted Shirley McGill likely did not die right away, and said the actions of Robert McGill after the beating showed he had some awareness of what he was doing and was not completely out of it from his excessive drinking. I killed her.. However, he only did this because he was ordered to do so by the coast guard. What do you think happened to Merrian? Wouldnt they want to find out the truth if someone disappears? Stinnett noted in the court papers that Robert McGill's knuckles "appeared as if he had been in a fight.". He was the only one on that ship that genuinely cared, who raised an alarm, and who tried to find her. If this happened as a cruise meme wr he probably knew every nook and cranny of the ship. "And I said, 'No, she didn't. She had one pair of shoes and one dress, both of which were left in her room when she vanished. "They were childhood sweethearts.". No, shes dead. / CBS News. There should have still been footage from the time his daughter disappeared when he first contacted them. Tamara Loraine Tucker, 50, from Lawson, Missouri, was allegedly murdered by her "longtime love", Eric Duane Newman, 53, on Friday, January 19, 2018 during a celebration for her 50th birthday. McGill made the confession after being informed of his Miranda rights and telling interrogators he was willing to answer questions without the presence of an attorney, FBI Special Agent James B. Stinnett wrote in a probable cause affidavit attached to the criminal complaint charging him with one count of murder. display: none; That said, this case really disturbed me, due to the cover up by the cruise line (one I happen to sail on). Shirley McGill retired last week from the state Department of Motor Vehicles, and her husband had planned to retire soon as well, acquaintances said. They are not thinking of the the pain and devastation they are going to leave behind. This person jumped. A risk-management manager for the cruise line told him that no alarm had been raised after his daughters disappearance, since it was normal for people to leave their belongings behind, and normal for them to suddenly change their rooms without notice. A Topeka, Kansas, man was arrested this week for allegedly killing his girlfriend on a cruise ship in January, prosecutors said. Two years later, he married Shirley McGill in Las Vegas. Mizeners beaded purse was found with beads missing near a smoking deck. Tucker fell from her "balcony to several decks below early on the morning of Jan. 19," Carnival said in a statement the day after her death. Aztecs to honor 8 on Senior Night against Wyoming, but are all of them leaving? It is believed that he went overboard due to an accident on the ship. Shirley McGill, 55, was killed on July 14, 2009, aboard the Carnival cruise ship Elation. "That's putting more financial burden on top of the pain and horror that I've caused this family," he added before the hearing resumed. Why? Daniel Kueblboeck, a German pop star, was famous for a short time on the talent show Germany Seeks the Superstar. Son Noel Salazar said that whatever McGill had accomplished it could not outweigh the killing, which has devastated the family. Suicidal people are not thinking clearly. But he never returned to their cabin.[6]. He told her he would be back shortly. Several people have vanished aboard cruise liners, leaving their friends and families heartbroken and confused. After heading to Cabo with two couples and returning to the ship on the last leg of the cruise, McGill was so drunk "he could barely walk," a witness said. The American woman was only 23 years old when she disappeared from the vessel on March 24, 1998. Mar 6th 600p DARLA Recently retired newly weds embark on their third tropical cruise in less than year. He later told the FBI he did not remember having a verbal argument, and stated that it was all him.. And she had so many things yet to accomplish.". The luggage contained gifts that he had purchased for his wife and children. A month earlier, Daniel had posted on Facebook about being bullied as a kid, how it had affected him deeply, and that he still did not feel better mentally or physically. Genres Documentary Subtitles None Available Audio Languages English In 2005, Hue Pham, 71, and Hue Tran, 67, took a seven-night Mothers Day cruise in the Caribbean with their daughter and granddaughter. As some of you know, I was fortunate enough to be the writer-expert for a true crime documentary show calledCruise Ship Killers, which tells the stories of twenty-six people who vanished, died mysteriously, or were the victims of other crimes while on board a cruise. Did she decide to skip out on her duties or did a terrible fate await her on-shore? No one filed a police report; no one contacted the family. But their luck takes a turn at the apex of their journey, with many wondering what happened aboard the ship. Frustrated, Carverhired one of the largest private investigation firms in the country, but this resulted in more questions than answers. "Are they ashamed of something?" After heading to Cabo with two couples and returning to the ship on the last leg of the cruise, McGill was so drunk he could barely walk, a witness said. In August 2004, a 40-year-old red-haired poet and investment banker named Merrian Carver boarded the Mercury, one of Royal Caribbeans Celebrity cruise ships. But at one of the many stops along the way, a grizzly discovery is made when crew membersfind the widower's body crammed into her own suitcase. ". Moncrieff. So he killed her. "On Oct. 15, 2005," Allred told a news conference, "Ashley's boyfriend ran into the hallway screaming for help. He was looking forward to it.". This includes using first- and third-party cookies, which store or access standard device information such as a unique identifier. I tend to doubt it. Well seems to me she was having an affair with an unnamed cruise member. Smith vanished after a long night of drinking and gambling at the ships casino. Police and the FBI also failed to find any evidence or trace of her during their investigation on the ship. Ashley. But when the weather report comes in showing no wind, a murder investigation begins. [5], 10 People Who Mysteriously Vanished While Traveling. A new mystery on the high seas is the latest to plague the cruise ship industry, which has been under fire recently for the way it deals with onboard crimes. Seriously! My parents went on a cruise from Seattle to Alaska. They might have erased the surveillance tapes when they saw the crime. ", When she died, Barnett was working for composer John Debny, who remarked to Lagattuta: "No one is forthcoming. }, First published on July 20, 2009 / 11:30 AM. Not to mention the tax breaks they get! She had made her decision and once they make that decision they do seem happy. Thank you to Jamie Barnett, President of the ICV, for his assistance and support with this post. Because you dont have that. Authorities believe that Halford went missing sometime between 11:45 PM on April 6 and 7:30 AM on April 7. The county closed it in June because of dwindling attendance. Was she OK? The couple were aboard Carnival Cruise Lines [], Kristy Manzanares, 39, a real estate agent from St. George, Utah was sailing aboard Princess Cruises cruise ship Emerald Princess in Alaska on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Some theories claimed that he was thrown overboard by the men with whom he was arguing. May 3, 2021 | Unsolved Mysteries As some of you know, I was fortunate enough to be the writer-expert for a true crime documentary show called Cruise Ship Killers, which tells the stories of twenty-six people who vanished, died mysteriously, or were the victims of other crimes while on board a cruise. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison when sentenced Nov. 8. i too believe she was murdered. The judge agreed. 1. Friends and neighbors said they were shocked to learn of the charge. The family says Barnett's boyfriend told them he had no idea what happened. When he goes missing, all signs point to foul play. Sadly, he passed away in December 2019 without ever finding out what became of Merrian. In 2010, Rebecca Coriam started working for Disney Cruise Line and spent months visiting several ports in the Bahamas. Im always skeptical of pulling the suicide card but it seems quite obvious here. 2. In fact, one of her friends told me, if she was ever in a room with anybody when they thought they would party a little bit, Ashley would leave the room. Finally, feeling out of options, Carver filed a lawsuit against the Royal Caribbean. } Such a tragedy that these crimes (I believe it WAS a crime) can be covered up so easily, leaving no closure or justice for the families. Merrian Carvers disappearance from a cruise ship around Alaska in 2004 is one of the more absurd stories. Cruise Ship Killers | Season 1 | Episode 16 | Erica | John Barnard | J.H. They eventually called off the search, and Caldwell was presumed to be dead. The death was reported to Carnival crew members around 8:20 p.m., but authorities have placed the time of Shirley McGill's death about two hours before, according to the court documents. I havent read any comments so maybe others already brought up this theory. On March 22, 2011, while working on the Disney Wonder, Coriam disappeared. Me too, Birgit. Featuring interviews with family, friends, investigators and experts. Directors John Barnard Ian Bawa Writers Chris Charney (story editor) Carolyn Gray Stars John Barnard No one secured her cabin. I wonder if she was in a relationship with the stewards supervisor and thats why he covered it up. But their luck changes drastically and the friends who are on board celebrating with them now aid in the search for the farmer who is now missing at sea. To me, suicide is a silent because we dont always recognize the signs until theyve passed. The cruise ship was off the coast of Canada when the incident occurred. "Bob and Shirley loved each other very much. My overall impression is that more than one person is covering up, for reasons of their own. Its so easy to claim every disappearance on a cruise ship is suicidetoo easy. A Carnival 'Elation' cruise ship in Nassau, Bahamas appears in this undated stock photo. All told, hedspent $75,000 on investigators and lawyers and still had no idea what had happened to his daughter, though he believed her to be deceased. I agree, JD. She supposedly was having a relationship with an unidentified cruise member. Then during the interview, he telephoned one of his two grown sons. Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Fascination was near Miami on the final night of the trip when Caldwell disappeared. And that's a shame. Theyre floating petri dishes at the best of times. Her family was not contacted and her items were removed from her cabin. The attorney who handled the case did not immediately return a call seeking comment. By that time, the trail had gone cold.[9]. Please enter valid email address to continue. The guy she was in a relationship with panicked at her appearance (could have had another woman on board, could have thought the relationship had been a fling and freaked out when she showed up on his ship, who knows?). Calls to McGill's attorney were not immediately returned. The latest involves the sudden death of an aspiring actress during a Carnival cruise in October. He was told the ships surveillance cameras automatically erase any footage after only three days. McGill was going to join her when he retired. He made his initial court appearance on Thursday, prosecutors said, and his detention hearing is set for Sept. 12. A blood-stained canopy is the only telltale sign of a young mans fate, leaving many more questions than answers to what happened. asked the couple who had just spent the day with them in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, after noticing blood on his hand. Rapid reversal of price growth: San Diego home prices declining more quickly than other cities, Fernando Tatis Jr. disciplined at the top of Padres stacked lineup and still learning in right field, Demand for freshmen admission at UC San Diego drops for first time in roughly 20 years, Two women suffer major injuries after head-on collision in Lake Murray-area, Aztecs assistant coach Ron Gould hired by NFLs Rams less than a month into role at SDSU, Spring training recap: Padres no-hit by Cubs, After mans death ruled a homicide, sheriff says jails are working to better meet needs of mentally ill inmates, Opinion: Being a DJ is about music but its also about common ground, companionship and knowledge. The 63-year-old man disappeared while on a holiday cruise in Egypt. I honestly think someone killed her; I dont believe it was suicide. He eventually fell asleep. Some theories claim that she was swept overboard while at the pool. On May 12, a ship employee found two passports, two pairs of flip-flops . Thats terrible that the cruise line basically covered it up. Tucker's obituary had described Newman, 53, as her "partner and longtime love," The Kansas City Star reported. She was last seen when the ship was around 48 kilometers (30 mi) off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico. She embarked upon a seven-day cruise from Seattle, Washington to Alaska. At his court appearance earlier in the day, she declined to comment on the case. She left the band around 1:00 AM, and her father noticed her sleeping on their cabin balcony around 5:30 AM. It was not unusual for Merrian to go off on spur-of-the-moment trips without telling anyone, and since her daughter was staying with her ex-husband for the summer, it might have seemed like a good opportunity. Oh, that was kind of a joke, but from the show, thats when people tended to disappear. He did report that it was a short walk from Merrians room to an observation deck 100 feet above the waterline. But when the weather report comes in for the evening showing no wind, a murder investigation begins.Cruise Ship Killers is a true crime series that tells the stories of people who never returned home after taking a holiday on a cruise ship, featuring interviews with family, friends, investigators and experts.Stars: John Barnard, J.H. Im sure Someone else theorized this, Your email address will not be published. It would be nice to think it was mere incompetence on the part of the cruise line, but it does seem like they were deliberately covering something up. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie Preferences, as described in the Cookie Notice. On April 6, 2011, John Halford went missing while aboard Thomson Cruises Thomson Spirit. Merrian booked passage on the cruise only two days before it sailed, and brought two handbags, but no suitcases, on board. The bottom line is if they had not been drinking, you can almost go to the bank that it would not have happened.. A savvy poker player cleans up at the tables once at sea. Paul White, a friend of McGill who taught with him at three Los Angeles County schools for troubled teens, described the crime as unbelievable. "The ships medical team responded immediately, but, unfortunately, she passed away.". He also learned hed been lied to about the surveillance footage, which had been kept for onemonth, not three days. Hougardy said Shirley McGill planned to move to Oregon, where her family and her children from a previous marriage lived. On the face of it, suicide does seem to be a likely option, but with the lack of evidence we will probably never know. Couldnt happen to nicer companies, Mark. Jim Cross, spokesman for the Department of Justice in Kansas, identified Tucker as Newman's girlfriend but declined to comment further on the case. They had been high school sweethearts who reunited through the Internet and married in 2003. If you agree, well also use cookies to complement your shopping experience across the Amazon stores as described in our Cookie Notice. I cant say I ever seriously considered going on a cruise: trapped on a boat with strangers isnt my idea of fun. Everyone has dark moments in their lives, and its a shame they can be used against us if we go missing. display: block; The amount of people who go missing or who are murdered on cruise lines is disproportionate. This is a very intriguing story but I cant help but think she committed suicide because of what she brought on the cruise with her. I disagree. McGill was divorced when he reconnected with Shirley through the Internet, colleagues said. Its really scary. No body was ever found. The ship had left Jacksonville, Florida, the day before. Colombia wants to deport "cocaine hippos" to stop them from multiplying He was excited. The supervisor said, Just forget it, and do your job. The attendant did as she was told, although nobody ever used the room. If she jumped off her balcony, its not that far fetched that she would not wear shoes or even many clothes (after all, shes committing suicide). In court, former colleagues of Robert McGill spoke of his talent and dedication as a teacher, and said they were baffled by what he had done. ", Carnival spokesman Vance Gulliksen added to ABC News on Friday, "We continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement authorities, but this is now a matter for federal prosecutors.".