A retired teacher takes a solo Great Lakes cruise toward a family reunion. More questions than answers from my end as well! On the face of it, suicide does seem to be a likely option, but with the lack of evidence we will probably never know. In July 2005, George Allen Smith IV and his wife, Jennifer, were celebrating their two-week-long honeymoon on a cruise from Greece to Turkey when he mysteriously disappeared. Through investigating her financial records, the police discovered credit-card charges for the round trip to Seattle and the Alaskan cruise. 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. ", When she died, Barnett was working for composer John Debny, who remarked to Lagattuta: "No one is forthcoming. I really dont have the words to make anyone feel better, said McGill. The investigator was allowed onto the ship, but wasnt permitted to speak to anyone, including the ships security officer. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. I wonder if shed planned to buy some in one of the ports. Their son, Michael Pham, testified before Congress to urge tougher regulation of safety practices on cruise lines. 2023 J.H. Hey RandeeI believe that information came from the steward, who spent a fair amount of time speaking to her and preparing her room for bedtime, etc. After finding out more about these cruise ships, I dont think Ill follow their example. Her family hasnt received any answers as to why or how she went missing while aboard the cruise ship. The cruise line took three more days to confirm to authorities that she had been on the vessel, which was 26 days after she disappeared. Afterward, he changed clothes and went up to a deck, smoked a cigar and had more beer with another couple. The lengths theyll go to are really shocking, even when its one of their own staff members who vanishes. Happens every single day. McGill told a Carnival investigator he had argued with his wife and punched her once in the stomach. Pull back the curtain and see how a suspense writer puts the thrills and chills together. That doesnt explain why the steward who was concerned for her was told to keep his mouth shut, or why her belongings were disposed of and her family was not notified. He reported her missing right away and continued to report her missing for the remaining five days of the cruise, until his supervisor ordered him to do his job and forget it.. Many corporations in the vacation industry hide things from their patrons that arent even their fault in a misguided attempt to keep precious normalcy. Here are 10 times that people mysteriously disappeared from cruise ships. But the end of the late-in-life romance between Robert and Shirley McGill turned out to be something from a horror film. They are not thinking of the the pain and devastation they are going to leave behind. "On Oct. 15, 2005," Allred told a news conference, "Ashley's boyfriend ran into the hallway screaming for help. He drank. There was also an envelope which may have included a suicide note. I admit that I killed Shirley Jean McGill, maiden name Longstreet, by beating her to death with my fists, in the bathroom, hed said to an FBI agent. If she walked to the observation deck to commit suicide, she did it in her underwear. I also thought it odd that she brought so few things or that the cabin steward knew what she brought, its kind of creepy that he looked in her closet long enough to take inventory. "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. 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. Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Fascination was near Miami on the final night of the trip when Caldwell disappeared. "She had no patience with drugs. Her family was not contacted and her items were removed from her cabin. Third parties use cookies for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalised ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. However, her steward insisted that shedid not seem upset, out of sorts, sad or angry. There are simply too many cooks stirring this particular pot of murky broth. 2 talking about this. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison when sentenced Nov. 8. Its so easy to claim every disappearance on a cruise ship is suicidetoo easy. They truly are the wild west. Perhaps you can help us figure out what happened to Julie Weflen. A millionaire widower and her teenaged daughter take a fivestar cruise together. Others say that she jumped or fell from the deck. Barnett was just turning 25. Robert McGill sat on deck atop the Carnival cruise ship Elation, smoking a cigar and drinking out of a bucket of beers. 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). After he admitted killing his wife, the other couple reported him to Carnival Cruise Lines security, who confronted the man on deck, according to court papers. They either gambled and won quite a bit of money, or they said they were going to the bathroom, and WERE NEVER SEEN AGAIN. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Forge said the brutal death of Shirley McGill overshadowed her husbands career. There have been many theories about her disappearance, but none have been proven to be true. Robert and Shirley McGill were marking their 55th birthdays just days into their luxurious Mexican cruise when she was found beaten to death in their cabin. Shirley McGill, 55, was killed on July 14, 2009, aboard the Carnival cruise ship Elation. Finally, feeling out of options, Carver filed a lawsuit against the Royal Caribbean. The 40-year-old woman vanished from a Royal Caribbean ship that nobody in her family even knew she had boarded. This video is currently unavailable. When she showed up he told her where to meet her or he had done something to keep her quiet. She threw a few things into a bag, intending to buy new things in port. 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,. The judge agreed. Alex Murdaugh found guilty of murders of wife and son 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says, Colombia wants to deport "cocaine hippos" to stop them from multiplying, Skeletal remains found in Pennsylvania identified as man missing since 2013, Alex Murdaugh found guilty of murders of wife and son. That last evening, he and his fiancee had gone to dinner with some friends they met on the cruise. Watch Cruise Ship Killers Season 1 A true crime docuseries that chronicles the unfortunate events that take place as unsuspecting travelers board cruise ships and never return home from vacation; interviews from family, friends and experts detail each case. On May 12, a ship employee found two passports, two pairs of flip-flops . As her family hadnt known that Carver was on the ship, the police needed time to trace her there. 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. But when shes found brutally murdered in a lower class cabin, questions revolve around who could have committed such a crime against her. Jamie founded Listverse due to an insatiable desire to share fascinating, obscure, and bizarre facts. In two years of letter writing, White said his friend has never explained why he killed his sweetheart. } We also use these cookies to understand how customers use our services (for example, by measuring site visits) so we can make improvements. When she mentioned the same wish the following night, he suggested ordering room service, and then brought her two sandwiches at her request. Everyone would assume she went overboard. A scratch and win ticket unveils an all-expense paid cruise for a young couple; but their luck runs out once aboard the ship as one of them ends up murdered. 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. Shirley McGill turned 55 just six days before she died. MoncrieffWebsite By Elise Epp Design and Amanda Weber. He did report that it was a short walk from Merrians room to an observation deck 100 feet above the waterline. "Are they ashamed of something?" He was looking forward to it.". But their luck takes a turn at the apex of their journey, with many wondering what happened aboard the ship. He loved her with all his heart, White, a Ventura resident, said in an interview. On the second day of the cruise, a cabin attendant noticed that the bed had not been used and reported it to the boss. Yes, its safe to assume those were not her remains, as its never been confirmed. Her dad returned to the balcony at 6:00 AM to check on Amy, but she was no longer there. The cruise lines are currently losing a massive amount of money daily, with their ships just sitting around. And she had so many things yet to accomplish.". She left the band around 1:00 AM, and her father noticed her sleeping on their cabin balcony around 5:30 AM. He eventually fell asleep. Her family believes foul play was involved, but her case remains unsolved.[8]. Some 30 years later, they reconnected at a high school reunion, got married and by all accounts were happy together. She had made her decision and once they make that decision they do seem happy. In 2004 a 40-year-old lady named Merrian was taking a cruise to Alaska on board the Celebrity Mercury. Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSign Up For Our NewslettersSite Map, Copyright 2023, The San Diego Union-Tribune |, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, San Diego Roman Catholic diocese facing yet another lawsuit now from its own insurance company, Reporters Notebook: Newsoms criticisms of judges dont earn same scolding as Trumps, Lawsuit accuses Roman Catholic Diocese of fraudulently transferring assets to foil sex abuse liability, Sheriffs Department wont ban maximum restraints but alters training following lawsuit, Number of windows in San Diego courthouse that broke within industry norms, state agency says, San Diego jury rejects claim that patient awakened during surgery, San Diego rent increases are slowing. That said, this case really disturbed me, due to the cover up by the cruise line (one I happen to sail on). The 33-year-old was aboard an AIDA Cruises ship for a holiday from Hamburg to New York when he went missing. Thanks, Sherry. Some theories claim that she was swept overboard while at the pool. Sometimes the obvious is the answer. Required fields are marked *. Halfords suitcases were found sitting outside his cabins door, which is required for guests on the last night of the cruise. Another guest on the cruise, a volunteer fireman, heard the boyfriend's screams and started CPR, and instructed him to call 911.". Authorities believe that she fell or was pushed overboard, but some strange facts emerged about her vanishing. Did someone aboard see her before she disappeared? When she failed to report for her shift, crew members started looking for Coriam. Its so sad, and I also dont think she would have left her daughter. Yep. Bring me to brig or security office and check my cabin R24.. The FBI says the investigation is ongoing. Genres Documentary Subtitles None Available Audio Languages English 1 Hue Pham And Hue Tran. Maybe his concern wasnt that genuine and he knew something. 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. They might have erased the surveillance tapes when they saw the crime. But just six years later, Robert allegedly murdered Shirley on the bathroom floor of their cruise ship cabin. congratulations on the documentary. The American woman was only 23 years old when she disappeared from the vessel on March 24, 1998. "Bob and Shirley loved each other very much. "The incident was reported to all proper authorities and CARE Team support was offered to fellow travelers and her family," Carnival said. They cited his lifelong work as a dedicated teacher and that he was extremely intoxicated when he beat his wife, so much so that he has no clear memory of what provoked him or what happened. My parents went on a cruise from Seattle to Alaska. 1. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says, under fire recently for the way it deals with onboard crimes. Robert McGill, 57, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in July, and his lawyers were seeking a sentence of slightly more than 11 years in prison. If the manilla envelope contained a suicide note, why didnt the cruise line release it, since it would have proven their theory? Several people have vanished aboard cruise liners, leaving their friends and families heartbroken and confused. The couple was on a five-day cruise to Mexico, and it was the husband's 55th birthday. 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