display: none; He also learned hed been lied to about the surveillance footage, which had been kept for onemonth, not three days. Robert McGill was not in the room when the body was found, but was taken into custody by ship security later on, authorities said. Did she decide to skip out on her duties or did a terrible fate await her on-shore? Was it revenge, jealousy or a murderous impulse at sea? asked the couple who had just spent the day with them in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, after noticing blood on his hand. 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 you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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. He was the only one on that ship that genuinely cared, who raised an alarm, and who tried to find her. Wheres your wife, Shirley? "I saw Bob a couple days before they left. Her dad returned to the balcony at 6:00 AM to check on Amy, but she was no longer there. McGill was going to join her when he retired. McGill was distraught during the brief hearing and argued with federal public defenders about whether he could make a statement to the court as his family members sobbed in the gallery. They all had a few drinks and decided to hit up some of the nightclubs after dinner. Mizeners beaded purse was found with beads missing near a smoking deck. He eventually fell asleep. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Again. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. SAN DIEGO (CBS/ AP) They were former high school sweethearts who found each other decades later and renewed their love. The bartender said that Caldwell had appeared to be very drunk, but the barkeep did not help his customer back to his room. 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. If the manilla envelope contained a suicide note, why didnt the cruise line release it, since it would have proven their theory? Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. "The ships medical team responded immediately, but, unfortunately, she passed away.". But Barnett's friends and family say Carnival has been stonewalling them. A 40-year-old disappears on the second night of a cruise, her family is left searching for answers and it ends up changing the way missing persons are reported at sea. When a crime is committed on a cruise ship, it rarely is investigated properly or promptly reported. During at least one of his visits, she was wearing a nightshirt and underwear. Thanks so much, Cat. In fact, the police only learned of her disappearance when her father filed a missing persons report days later. On the second day of the cruise, a cabin attendant noticed that the bed had not been used and reported it to the boss. An average of ten Americans disappear from cruise ships every year. As her family hadnt known that Carver was on the ship, the police needed time to trace her there. Everyone has dark moments in their lives, and its a shame they can be used against us if we go missing. The search for his body was called off after four days.[4]. Her poor dad. The passports belonged to Hue Pham and Hue Tran.[10]. This includes using first- and third-party cookies, which store or access standard device information such as a unique identifier. The Royal Caribbeandid contact the FBI, but not until Merrian had been missing for five weeks. 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?). Jim Cross, spokesman for the Department of Justice in Kansas, identified Tucker as Newman's girlfriend but declined to comment further on the case. i too believe she was murdered. Shirley McGill retired last week from the state Department of Motor Vehicles, and her husband had planned to retire soon as well, acquaintances said. I believe she left the large amount of tip for the gentleman who was concerned most about her disappearance. To celebrate, she booked the cruise with her boyfriend. 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. 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. I havent read any comments so maybe others already brought up this theory. Thank you to Jamie Barnett, President of the ICV, for his assistance and support with this post. Ok so where the video. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, White supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes kicked out of CPAC, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Biden team readies new advisory panel ahead of expected reelection bid, At least 10 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, House Democrats unhappy with White House handling of D.C.'s new criminal code. Happens every single day. No one collected evidence. A honeymoon cruise goes awry when the bride is allegedly blown off a balcony in the middle of the night. Robert McGill spoke briefly, saying he was remorseful. 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. She didnt have enough close for a full trip. But somebody outside that company knows something. The supervisor put her belongings in his own locker, except for her clothing, which was promptly donated to charity. } Im always skeptical of pulling the suicide card but it seems quite obvious here. 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. The couple had been high school sweethearts and then broke up. Two years after that fateful evening of July 14, 2009, the Winnetka schoolteacher pleaded guilty Thursday in a San Diego federal court to second-degree murder on the high seas. But her body was never found. 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. The 47-year-old mother of two from Canada disappeared on February 29, 2012, somewhere between the Bahamas and Florida. Eric Newman appears in this 2013 mugshot provided by the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. 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. Another guest on the cruise, a volunteer fireman, heard the boyfriend's screams and started CPR, and instructed him to call 911.". "She said, 'I'm terribly, terribly sorry to tell you your daughter passed away today,' " Jamie Barnett told Lagattuta. Is it on TV yet? "They were childhood sweethearts.". 1996-2022, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Dont think Ill be going on any cruises. In bankruptcy papers, McGill listed assets of $50,000 to $100,000 and debts of $100,000 to $500,000. The 63-year-old man disappeared while on a holiday cruise in Egypt. A Carnival 'Elation' cruise ship in Nassau, Bahamas appears in this undated stock photo. This video is currently unavailable. congratulations on the documentary. Sadly, he passed away in December 2019 without ever finding out what became of Merrian. Its horrible that cruise lines have so much power to do whatever they please and cover up anything that is questionable. They really enjoyed it. Its not good publicity and results in very costly lawsuits. SIGN UP FOR SNEAK PEEKS OF MY NEXT BOOK + NEWSLETTER-ONLY UPDATES. The cruise ship was off the coast of Canada when the incident occurred. What a fascinating, yet scary, and helpless story! 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. Jennifer claimed that she did not remember much from the previous night, and nobody ever admitted to knowing anything about Smiths disappearance. 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. Clues to her disappearance are detailed in a diary discovered in her cabin. During questioning, the school teacher from Los Angeles told investigators he killed his wife "in the bathroom of their cabin with his bare hands," court documents revealed Friday. Pull back the curtain and see how a suspense writer puts the thrills and chills together. 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The couple was on a five-day cruise to Mexico, and it was the husband's 55th birthday. Not to mention the tax breaks they get! In court documents, his lawyers said that he had at least 20 drinks, including beer, hard liquor and mescal. Your email address will not be published. They truly are the wild west. And she had so many things yet to accomplish.". Her family has hired its own investigator, and hopes for a meeting with officials from Carnival. They had sailed on the Elation to celebrate their pending retirement. Robert McGill was arrested when the ship docked in San Diego. Liability. 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. Theyre floating petri dishes at the best of times. Some theories claimed that he was thrown overboard by the men with whom he was arguing. People who are determined and serious about committing suicide are good at hiding sadness. January 19, 2018. They had been high school sweethearts who reunited through the Internet and married in 2003. According to authorities, he was last seen at the ships bar drinking cocktails. 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. Halfords suitcases were found sitting outside his cabins door, which is required for guests on the last night of the cruise. The coast guard began an 84-hour search that spanned 25,900 square kilometers (10,000 mi2), but they were unable to find Fariba. Afterward, he changed clothes and went up to a deck, smoked a cigar and had more beer with another couple. display: none; They believe he was murdered. There are other explanations for that, though. Sometimes the obvious is the answer. But when the weather report comes in for the evening showing no wind, a murder investigation begins. She never got off the boat via record. 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. I so appreciate your support and the lovely review! But he never returned to their cabin.[6]. Thats why she never said a word to anyone about he going in a cruise. Frantic, she contacted Kendall Carver, Merrians dad, who reported his daughter missing to the Cambridge, Massachusetts police when he also couldnt reach her. Well seems to me she was having an affair with an unnamed cruise member. But when a cruise line is at fault or a cruise line member is involved Im sure you get the brick wall. 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. A savvy poker player cleans up at the tables once at sea. (Names and other identifying details were changed on the show for legal reasons.). They had pleaded with Gonzalez to impose the maximum sentence. They either gambled and won quite a bit of money, or they said they were going to the bathroom, and WERE NEVER SEEN AGAIN. She supposedly was having a relationship with an unidentified cruise member. She was last seen on CCTV footage in the crews lounge talking on an internal phone. Authorities believe that the couple committed suicide by jumping into the sea together. My parents went on a cruise from Seattle to Alaska. There should have still been footage from the time his daughter disappeared when he first contacted them. His body was never found. None of Merrians family members or friends had any idea shed gone on a cruise, but this wasnt out of character. 1. Shes dead, said McGill, then 55, according to court papers. A social media maven takes a cruise she believes will put her public profile over the tipping point. They might have erased the surveillance tapes when they saw the crime. Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Fascination was near Miami on the final night of the trip when Caldwell disappeared. How did she disappear? He killed her and tossed her overboard. I cant believe she left because she had a daughter, and unless she was drastically suicidal, no mom would do that. 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. I agree, JD. So she didnt bring a lot of clothes with her. Later that night, he pummeled his wife inside the cabin, then strangled her. Cruise Ship Killers | Season 1 | Episode 16 | Erica | John Barnard | J.H. A retired teacher takes a solo Great Lakes cruise toward a family reunion. A former crew member contacted Carver and told him that Merrian had been having a relationship with another, unidentified crew member. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { My theory: sailing was a last-minute decision to meet up with the crew member with whom she was having a relationship. To help others avoid the pain and suffering hed gone through, Carver founded International Cruise Victims, an advocacy and support group, in 2006. True-crime tales of people who never returned home after taking a holiday aboard a cruise ship. He spent an hour searching for her on the ship.[7]. One thing many tourists dont realize is that American cruise ships sail under foreign flags, which allows them to circumvent US lawsand taxes. Ramiz last saw her at the ships gift shop, and then he headed to the casino by himself. Her family believes foul play was involved, but her case remains unsolved.[8]. August 18, 2022. Frightening. 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. Fascinating story. She is survived by a son, her obituary said, according to the newspaper. Paul White, a friend of McGill who taught with him at three Los Angeles County schools for troubled teens, described the crime as unbelievable. Crystal then decided to head in for the night, but Caldwell chose to stay in the casino for a while. Poor dad. There was also an envelope which may have included a suicide note. Heres what we know, Governors declaration allows Los Angeles County to get reimbursed, Who will replace ex-LA councilmember Nury Martinez? Merrian was single, independent, and she had been known to take other trips when she needed to clear her head, without necessarily letting anyone know. On the final day of the trip, she disappeared from Carnivals ship The Pride. The 40-year-old woman vanished from a Royal Caribbean ship that nobody in her family even knew she had boarded. But not everyone returns home from these trips. Obviously, it was a last-minute decision to go on this cruise (with her lover, a crew member? She was last seen when the ship was around 48 kilometers (30 mi) off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico. Frustrated, Carverhired one of the largest private investigation firms in the country, but this resulted in more questions than answers. 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. ". RIP, Kendall Carver. Ashley Episode 1 - 44 mins Here are 10 times that people mysteriously disappeared from cruise ships. Moncrieff, Damian Turner #CruiseShipKillers #CrimeTV #BreakthroughEntertainment He drank. 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. Tamara Loraine Tucker Cruise Ship Passenger Murder Carnival Elation. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison when sentenced Nov. 8. Colombia wants to deport "cocaine hippos" to stop them from multiplying When Ramiz woke up, Fariba still had not returned. She disappeared without a trace. 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. Ashley. He took her body to a place he could hide it to dispose of it later. He was told the ships surveillance cameras automatically erase any footage after only three days. They said that his death could have resulted from an accident, but his family was never convinced. Everybody loved her. No body was ever found. Moncrieff. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. What a tragic story. He made his initial court appearance on Thursday, prosecutors said, and his detention hearing is set for Sept. 12. A professors assistant goes missing at sea near the end of a long voyage. Barnett's family hired lawyer Gloria Allred in their search for answers. The supervisor said, Just forget it, and do your job. The attendant did as she was told, although nobody ever used the room. 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). After finding out more about these cruise ships, I dont think Ill follow their example. Trending News I really dont have the words to make anyone feel better, said McGill. She threw a few things into a bag, intending to buy new things in port. When the cruise ship docked the next morning, he was not in his room or anywhere else on the ship. Its not uncommon for people to commit suicide on a cruise . Theres just not one industry to blame in that case. But when shes found brutally murdered in a lower class cabin, questions revolve around who could have committed such a crime against her. 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. She had danced all night with members of Rhapsodys band, Blue Orchid. She had made her decision and once they make that decision they do seem happy. U.S. District Magistrate William McCurine Jr. entered a plea of not guilty on McGill's behalf, as is common practice in federal court at initial appearances. ), but why would someone kill her? Try again. The FBI says the investigation is ongoing. On the face of it, suicide does seem to be a likely option, but with the lack of evidence we will probably never know. The same thing happened with Elisa Lam. And inside was Shirley McGills body in a pool of blood on the bathroom floor, with blood splattered around the cabin. There is absolutely no strong indication or proof that she committed suicide, especially since there was no record of her leaving her room. He appeared without handcuffs and wore a white jumpsuit. The San Diego County medical examiner's office said she died of strangulation and blunt force injury to the head and torso. 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. His reaction does seem strange. Carver was never seen again. Mar 6th 600p DARLA Recently retired newly weds embark on their third tropical cruise in less than year. Why wouldnt the cruise-ship employees want to find out the truth? Some 30 years later, they reconnected at a high school reunion, got married and by all accounts were happy together. To me, suicide is a silent because we dont always recognize the signs until theyve passed. When they asked about his wife, he told them he had killed her, according to court records. Son Noel Salazar said that whatever McGill had accomplished it could not outweigh the killing, which has devastated the family. Almarosa Tenorio Passenger Death Aboard Royal Princess, Katherine Kemp Notable Cruise Industry Death Murder, Tamara Loraine Tucker Cruise Ship Passenger Murder Carnival Elation, Kristy Manzanares Cruise Ship Passenger Murder Emerald Princess, Simone Scheuer Souza Crew Cruise Ship Murder MSC Musica, Adriana Morales de Florencio Crew Cruise Ship Death Murder Navigator of the Seas, Li Yinglei Passenger Cruise Ship Death MSC Magnifica, Shirley Timmons Cruise Ship Passenger Death, Mary Louise Amzibel Cruise Ship Passenger Death. She spent time by herself and didnt want to go to the dinner. It wasn't immediately clear to what McGill was referring. To learn more about how and for what purposes Amazon uses personal information (such as Amazon Store order history), please visit our Privacy Notice. Several people have vanished aboard cruise liners, leaving their friends and families heartbroken and confused.