My overall impression is that more than one person is covering up, for reasons of their own. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Why? If the manilla envelope contained a suicide note, why didnt the cruise line release it, since it would have proven their theory? 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. Did someone aboard see her before she disappeared? Allred asked at the news conference. But after she witnesses a man overboard, many begin to wonder if it was accidental or on purpose - and who is next? Police and the FBI also failed to find any evidence or trace of her during their investigation on the ship. He was placed in the brig and about 20 FBI agents intercepted the ship on a U.S. Coast Guard cutter late Wednesday and interviewed McGill and more than 50 witnesses while the Elation was still at sea. Their son, Michael Pham, testified before Congress to urge tougher regulation of safety practices on cruise lines. Carver went on to win his lawsuit, but it was a hollow victory. "He's a great friend, he's great with kids, he's a great dad, he's a great husband," White said. Are you a fan of unsolved mysteries? Its not good publicity and results in very costly lawsuits. Barnett's family hired lawyer Gloria Allred in their search for answers. It worked. Another passenger heard furniture being moved around inside the room, and Jennifer was later found passed out in a hallway.[2]. They eventually called off the search, and Caldwell was presumed to be dead. Im always skeptical of pulling the suicide card but it seems quite obvious here. Her steward, Domingo Monteiro, found her to be personable, relaxed, and looking forward to the cruise. No, she didn't. Stinnett noted in the court papers that Robert McGill's knuckles "appeared as if he had been in a fight.". Daniel Kueblboeck, a German pop star, was famous for a short time on the talent show Germany Seeks the Superstar. A savvy poker player cleans up at the tables once at sea. Crystal then decided to head in for the night, but Caldwell chose to stay in the casino for a while. Carver was never seen again. If she walked to the observation deck to commit suicide, she did it in her underwear. Skeletal remains found in Pennsylvania identified as man missing since 2013 Poor dad. But Barnett's friends and family say Carnival has been stonewalling them. I would bet he was married and wanted to keep it hush. display: none; He disappeared after reportedly either jumping or falling from a cruise ship. 2 talking about this. Thanks so much, Cat. The authorities werent notified that she was missing. Several people have vanished aboard cruise liners, leaving their friends and families heartbroken and confused. The manilla envelope and the money Merrian had left in her room disappeared with him, along with other personal belongings. Tucker, of Lawson, Missouri, was a professor of social work at Park University in Missouri, The Kansas City Star said. "It's unconscionable that they won't give up their records and give Ashley's parents the answers they are seeking. When he returned to their cabin, Fariba was not there. Shirleys dead and I killed her, he said, according to the court papers. McGill told a Carnival investigator he had argued with his wife and punched her once in the stomach. "The incident was reported to all proper authorities and CARE Team support was offered to fellow travelers and her family," Carnival said. "Are they ashamed of something?" And inside was Shirley McGills body in a pool of blood on the bathroom floor, with blood splattered around the cabin. McGill's family, including two adult sons, declined to comment after the hearing, as did Assistant U.S. Attorney Joanna Curtis. What do you think happened to Merrian? A sous chef aboard a cruise ship leaves her shift unexpectedly and is never seen again. Definitely something fishy here, and I dont mean Alaskan salmon. When the cruise ship docked the next morning, he was not in his room or anywhere else on the ship. The passports belonged to Hue Pham and Hue Tran.[10]. I think he lured her to a trap pretending like he was happy about the pregnancy. A honeymoon cruise goes awry when the bride is allegedly blown off a balcony in the middle of the night. Was she OK? In 2015, the FBI closed their investigation into the disappearance of Smith. Will we ever know the truth? 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. When she mentioned the same wish the following night, he suggested ordering room service, and then brought her two sandwiches at her request. Colleagues said McGill spent years teaching at-risk teens, became burned out by the job a decade ago but was revitalized when he came to work at the West Valley Leadership Academy in Canoga Park, a county-run alternative high school to help at-risk youth. There was no record of her leaving the ship. He has never been named or located, though many believe he found work on a different ship. Shirley McGill turned 55 just six days before she died. In 2005, Hue Pham, 71, and Hue Tran, 67, took a seven-night Mother's Day cruise in the Caribbean with their daughter and granddaughter. I honestly think someone killed her; I dont believe it was suicide. Maybe his concern wasnt that genuine and he knew something. Her family hasnt received any answers as to why or how she went missing while aboard the cruise ship. 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,. He told her he would be back shortly. She didnt tell anyone she was going (even if that was uncommon, she had recently gone through a divorce and custody battle), she took next to nothing with her as if she doesnt need much. Pull back the curtain and see how a suspense writer puts the thrills and chills together. Many corporations in the vacation industry hide things from their patrons that arent even their fault in a misguided attempt to keep precious normalcy. He drank heavily in Cabo that day before re-boarding the ship for the trip home. . Moncrieff Breakthrough Entertainment 108K subscribers Subscribe 2.2K 222K views 1 year ago #BreakthroughEntertainment. While on a family cruise to the Caribbean, Amy Lynn Bradley mysteriously vanished from the Royal Caribbean International Cruise Lines Rhapsody of the Seas. Third parties use cookies for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalised ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. Try again. A passenger aboard Brilliance of the Seas claimed that he heard men arguing in the Smiths room. What a tragic story. 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. Cruise lines are notorious for covering up crimes and cases of negligence to avoid getting sued (or having their ship docked for weeks due to a crime-scene investigation). On April 6, 2011, John Halford went missing while aboard Thomson Cruises Thomson Spirit. Youre not the only one who has that theory, Alexgood call. ", 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.". Merrian Carvers disappearance from a cruise ship around Alaska in 2004 is one of the more absurd stories. I wonder if she was in a relationship with the stewards supervisor and thats why he covered it up. 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. Shirley McGills children sounded a different note. Thats why, not knowing the details of her murder, it just seems inconceivable. Alex Murdaugh found guilty of murders of wife and son The attorney who handled the case did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Here are 10 times that people mysteriously disappeared from cruise ships. Surveillance video showed Caldwell leaving the casino at 2:17 AM, and one crew member admitted that a bartender had seen Caldwell on the promenade deck around 3:30 AM. The discovery led FBI agents to intercept the Carnival Elation cruise ship while it was at sea and interview dozens of witnesses, including Robert McGill. On July 14th, 2009, Robert and Shirley were on a five-day Mexican cruise on. i read a lot of true crime, watch documentaries, id tv, forensic files.the criminal mind fascinates me. "I don't think it is for the best. Her poor dad. But somebody outside that company knows something. By this point, she had been missing for twenty-six days. Carverhired Massachusetts and Florida lawyers to dig in the case, which resulted in two cruise-line employees giving telephone depositions in January 2005. He has been a guest speaker on numerous national radio and television stations and is a five time published author. His body was never found. Witnesses aboard the ship claim they saw someone jump overboard around 6:00 AM the day he went missing. I disagree. Why wasnt the FBI or other authorities given the opportunity to speak to him? The search for his body was called off after four days.[4]. This video is currently unavailable. I believe the key to this story is her lack of luggage, clothes etc Suicide is pretty likely. She is survived by a son, her obituary said, according to the newspaper. The latest involves the sudden death of an aspiring actress during a Carnival cruise in October. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says Court records show McGill was divorced from his first wife in 1998 after a 2-year proceeding and then filed for bankruptcy in 2001. 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. Though there is no evidence she even attempted suicide in the past, this history gave the Royal Caribbean the ammunition it needed. He appeared without handcuffs and wore a white jumpsuit. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. In bankruptcy papers, McGill listed assets of $50,000 to $100,000 and debts of $100,000 to $500,000. He also learned hed been lied to about the surveillance footage, which had been kept for onemonth, not three days. He loved her with all his heart, White, a Ventura resident, said in an interview. I wish I could have spoken to him before he passed away. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased and her family. A Topeka, Kansas, man was arrested this week for allegedly killing his girlfriend on a cruise ship in January, prosecutors said. And if she planned on committing suicide, why the round-trip ticket? 10 Eerie Last Words Of People Who Then Vanished Without A Trace. The 63-year-old man disappeared while on a holiday cruise in Egypt. 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. About The Author: Im just another bearded guy trying to write my way through life. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison when sentenced Nov. 8. This is my theory. The cruise liner company most definitely withheld vital information if you were being charitable you could say through total incompetence on their part. A true crime television 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. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son She spent time by herself and didnt want to go to the dinner. 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. The cruise lines are currently losing a massive amount of money daily, with their ships just sitting around. She ordered 2 sandwiches and to me its kinda strange. The amount of people who go missing or who are murdered on cruise lines is disproportionate. 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. Her family has hired its own investigator, and hopes for a meeting with officials from Carnival. Neither her family or International Cruise Victims, the organization her father founded, were notified. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The supervisor probably knows what happened. Thats why she never said a word to anyone about he going in a cruise. / CBS News. A former crew member contacted Carver and told him that Merrian had been having a relationship with another, unidentified crew member. In 2004 a 40-year-old lady named Merrian was taking a cruise to Alaska on board the Celebrity Mercury. Here are prices in 10 communities. He did report that it was a short walk from Merrians room to an observation deck 100 feet above the waterline. Jim Cross, spokesman for the Department of Justice in Kansas, identified Tucker as Newman's girlfriend but declined to comment further on the case. 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. Moncrieff. i believe this is one of the reasons why. That night, Barnett's mother got a phone call she never could have imagined from the ship's nurse. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Was it revenge, jealousy or a murderous impulse at sea? A full search and rescue mission began after family members realized the couple was missing, but the mission failed to find anyone. They might have erased the surveillance tapes when they saw the crime. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. It is believed that he went overboard due to an accident on the ship. display: none; The captain of the ship waited about three hours before finally turning around and dropping rescue boats to search for Mizener. A Carnival 'Elation' cruise ship in Nassau, Bahamas appears in this undated stock photo. She never got off the boat via record. There are other explanations for that, though. Frustrated, Carverhired one of the largest private investigation firms in the country, but this resulted in more questions than answers. But he never returned to their cabin.[6]. 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. A successful businessman takes a luxury cruise with two of his former classmates. In court documents, his lawyers said that he had at least 20 drinks, including beer, hard liquor and mescal. And that's a shame. Sorry for the late response. After they were unsuccessful, the United States Coast Guard and the Mexican Navy were alerted and joined the search. Carvers living hell was about to begin. 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. Theres just not one industry to blame in that case. Hundreds of books have been written about Disney and the odd practices at their theme parks where they go to great lengths cover up medical episodes that are not their fault because they dont want to alarm people. One thing I learned from Cruise Ship Killers: never use the casino, or tell people youre going to the washroom. From the Elation brig, he admitted to the captain hed killed his wife, but said he didnt know why Shirley had not provoked the attack. She left the band around 1:00 AM, and her father noticed her sleeping on their cabin balcony around 5:30 AM. Eric Newman was on the Carnival Elation ship on a four-day cruise to the Bahamas when he allegedly killed 50-year-old Tamara Tucker on Jan. 19, the Justice Department said in a news release Thursday. The county closed it in June because of dwindling attendance. Again. Life is mystery, McGill reportedly said. Dana Bartholomew has been a general assignment reporter since 2000 for the Los Angeles Daily News. 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?). Theyre floating petri dishes at the best of times. And she had so many things yet to accomplish.". Do you know anything about the claims by Canadian authorities that they thought the found Merrians bones? I agree, JD. Im wondering, though: How does anyone know how many clothes Merrian brought on board? I killed Shirley by accident, well not by accident. They really enjoyed it. Two years later, he married Shirley McGill in Las Vegas. He killed her and tossed her overboard. It sounds like something out of a movie: Teenage lovers break up and drift apart, only to reunite three decades later, fall in love again, and get married. So she didnt raise her voice or yell/scream. "She had no patience with drugs. Sadly, well probably never know the answers. Mar 6th 600p DARLA Recently retired newly weds embark on their third tropical cruise in less than year. In 2005, Hue Pham, 71, and Hue Tran, 67, took a seven-night Mothers Day cruise in the Caribbean with their daughter and granddaughter. He was looking forward to it.". The judge agreed. "I saw Bob a couple days before they left. How much he had is not known, but witnesses said he could barely walk when he returned to the ship. I know Ive done a horrible thing.. 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 detention hearing in the case is set for July 23, with a preliminary hearing on July 30. White said he worked with McGill for nearly 11 years and knew him to be calm and pleasant. Spending my holiday on a floating hotel never appealed, but even less so now. A honeymoon cruise goes awry when the bride is allegedly blown off a balcony in the middle of the night. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Everybody loved her. They had pleaded with Gonzalez to impose the maximum sentence. horror and suspense author J.H. 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. Shirley McGill, 55, was killed on July 14, 2009, aboard the Carnival cruise ship Elation. A passenger stated that a nearby camera for that deck was covered, so there was no footage of her. A blood-stained canopy is the only telltale sign of a young mans fate, leaving many more questions than answers to what happened. The cover up may not be as mysterious as it seems. He spent an hour searching for her on the ship.[7]. When he goes missing, all signs point to foul play. 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. "They were childhood sweethearts.". He made his initial court appearance on Thursday, prosecutors said, and his detention hearing is set for Sept. 12. display: block; A generous tip and a manilla envelope with unknown contents had been left behind, along with all of her belongings, including her only shoes. 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 had her whole life in front of her. 1 Hue Pham And Hue Tran. At his court appearance earlier in the day, she declined to comment on the case. They are not thinking of the the pain and devastation they are going to leave behind. Wheres your wife, Shirley? After the ship docked, her possessions were packed away. When she failed to report for her shift, crew members started looking for Coriam. Her dad returned to the balcony at 6:00 AM to check on Amy, but she was no longer there. In fact, the police only learned of her disappearance when her father filed a missing persons report days later. A professors assistant goes missing at sea near the end of a long voyage. On May 12, a ship employee found two passports, two pairs of flip-flops . Jamie founded Listverse due to an insatiable desire to share fascinating, obscure, and bizarre facts. And if she committed suicide, why did the cruise ship staff act so suspiciously and try their best to cover it up? The bartender said that Caldwell had appeared to be very drunk, but the barkeep did not help his customer back to his room. Cruise Ship Killers | Season 1 | Episode 1 | Ashley | John Barnard | J.H. They say her body was left with the coroner in Mexico while the cruise, and her boyfriend, continued on. Dont think Ill be going on any cruises. Ok so where the video. U.S. District Magistrate William McCurine Jr. entered. But her body was never found. 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. Her father reported her missing to the authorities on the cruise line, and the ship docked at Curacao, Antilles.[1]. I feel the same. Nearly six months later, what happened aboard the ship remains a mystery. But just six years later, Robert allegedly murdered Shirley on the bathroom floor of their cruise ship cabin. He drank. 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. Then during the interview, he telephoned one of his two grown sons. There have been many theories about her disappearance, but none have been proven to be true. 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. This is a joke. Included with Crime+Investigation PLAY on Amazon for 3.99/month after trial. The cruise ship was off the coast of Canada when the incident occurred. The cruise line maintained theyd had no reports about his daughter during the cruise, and refused to reveal the name of Merrians steward. Her family believes foul play was involved, but her case remains unsolved.[8]. According to authorities, he was last seen at the ships bar drinking cocktails. Because you dont have that. The cabin steward only looked in her closet once shed been missing and when he was trying to figure out what had happened to her. Click Customise Cookies to decline these cookies, make more detailed choices, or learn more. }, First published on July 20, 2009 / 11:30 AM. She disappeared without a trace. But her family said she would have stayed away from there. 1. A millionaire widower and her teenaged daughter take a fivestar cruise together. She told him she planned to go upstairs later, but did not want to visit the dining room. Tamara Loraine Tucker Cruise Ship Passenger Murder Carnival Elation. "On Oct. 15, 2005," Allred told a news conference, "Ashley's boyfriend ran into the hallway screaming for help. Thats why you cant show it. Smith vanished after a long night of drinking and gambling at the ships casino. ", Jamie, crying, told reporters: "I wake up every morning wishing I could hold her just one more time. Obviously, it was a last-minute decision to go on this cruise (with her lover, a crew member? When Monteiro checked on Merrians cabin the following morning, her bed had not been slept in. Thesupervisor whod dismissed the stewards concerns was fired and ushered off the ship before the FBI could speak to him. This person jumped. When Ramiz woke up, Fariba still had not returned. A husband and wife take a cruise to celebrate their good luck in business. 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. Everyone has dark moments in their lives, and its a shame they can be used against us if we go missing. On March 22, 2011, while working on the Disney Wonder, Coriam disappeared. A retired teacher takes a solo Great Lakes cruise toward a family reunion. Through investigating her financial records, the police discovered credit-card charges for the round trip to Seattle and the Alaskan cruise. Learn how your comment data is processed. Is it on TV yet? They had been high school sweethearts who reunited through the Internet and married in 2003. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Paul White, a friend of McGill who taught with him at three Los Angeles County schools for troubled teens, described the crime as unbelievable. 16+. The stewards supervisor might have suspected and covered up the killing for that reason, or the cruise line could have instructed employees to cover up evidence of crimes to protect their reputation. No one filed a police report; no one contacted the family. Couldnt happen to nicer companies, Mark. 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. In two years of letter writing, White said his friend has never explained why he killed his sweetheart. 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. They either gambled and won quite a bit of money, or they said they were going to the bathroom, and WERE NEVER SEEN AGAIN.