Christopher Caldwell and his fiancee, Crystal Tinder, went on a Carnival cruise in July 2004 to Mexico. The county closed it in June because of dwindling attendance. I tend to doubt it. McGill was going to join her when he retired. Moncrieff, Damian Turner #CruiseShipKillers #CrimeTV #BreakthroughEntertainment Security officers found a privacy please sign on the locked doorknob. I cant believe cruise ship employees would cover stories like these up. 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. In 2015, the FBI closed their investigation into the disappearance of Smith. "I know that she would never have knowingly or willingly ingested that," Jamie said. Shirley McGill was beaten and strangled to death on the bathroom floor of a cruise ship cabin at the hands of her husband. 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. None of Merrians family members or friends had any idea shed gone on a cruise, but this wasnt out of character. It worked. I havent read any comments so maybe others already brought up this theory. Spending my holiday on a floating hotel never appealed, but even less so now. The latest involves the sudden death of an aspiring actress during a Carnival cruise in October. Barnett was just turning 25. 2. She left the band around 1:00 AM, and her father noticed her sleeping on their cabin balcony around 5:30 AM. 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. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased and her family. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Clues to her disappearance are detailed in a diary discovered in her cabin. He later told the FBI he did not remember having a verbal argument, and stated that it was all him.. January 19, 2018. Her steward, Domingo Monteiro, found her to be personable, relaxed, and looking forward to the cruise. A sous chef aboard a cruise ship leaves her shift unexpectedly and is never seen again. Not to mention the tax breaks they get! But when the weather report comes in showing no wind, a murder investigation begins. I wonder if she was in a relationship with the stewards supervisor and thats why he covered it up. Robert McGill sat on deck atop the Carnival cruise ship Elation, smoking a cigar and drinking out of a bucket of beers. 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. Why wasnt the FBI or other authorities given the opportunity to speak to him? I feel the same way, Kimberlythat it was a crime. 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. display: block; The bartender said that Caldwell had appeared to be very drunk, but the barkeep did not help his customer back to his room. So she didnt raise her voice or yell/scream. She was last seen when the ship was around 48 kilometers (30 mi) off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico. She spent time by herself and didnt want to go to the dinner. Third parties use cookies for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalised ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. The couple, who had been married for 49 years, mysteriously vanished while on the Carnival Cruise Line ship. What a tragic story. 1. Her father reported her missing to the authorities on the cruise line, and the ship docked at Curacao, Antilles.[1]. Maybe his concern wasnt that genuine and he knew something. The passports belonged to Hue Pham and Hue Tran.[10]. More questions than answers from my end as well! During at least one of his visits, she was wearing a nightshirt and underwear. After finding out more about these cruise ships, I dont think Ill follow their example. An average of ten Americans disappear from cruise ships every year. This is a joke. No one collected evidence. 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). I wake up every morning praying that no other mother ever has to live this nightmare. Yes, its safe to assume those were not her remains, as its never been confirmed. A blood-stained canopy is the only telltale sign of a young mans fate, leaving many more questions than answers to what happened. 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 not everyone returns home from these trips. Her family believes foul play was involved, but her case remains unsolved.[8]. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says Allred asked at the news conference. A honeymoon cruise goes awry when the bride is allegedly blown off a balcony in the middle of the night. Genres Documentary Subtitles None Available Audio Languages English Shirley McGill, 55, was killed on July 14, 2009, aboard the Carnival cruise ship Elation. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. And if she planned on committing suicide, why the round-trip ticket? He took her body to a place he could hide it to dispose of it later. Sorry, there was a problem saving your cookie preferences. 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. This is my theory. they would have too many lawsuits because they take responsibility for NOTHING. She supposedly was having a relationship with an unidentified cruise member. 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.). She threw a few things into a bag, intending to buy new things in port. SAN DIEGO (CBS/ AP) They were former high school sweethearts who found each other decades later and renewed their love. I honestly think someone killed her; I dont believe it was suicide. Im not saying there wasnt a crime here, but it could just be money hungry corporate goons trying to eliminate hysteria to preserve the almighty bottom line. Smith vanished after a long night of drinking and gambling at the ships casino. Given the last minute cruise reservation, one outfit, the divorce and losing custody of her daughter, I believe Merriam committed suicide. Im wondering, though: How does anyone know how many clothes Merrian brought on board? I agree, JD. Pull back the curtain and see how a suspense writer puts the thrills and chills together. Finally, feeling out of options, Carver filed a lawsuit against the Royal Caribbean. The supervisor said, Just forget it, and do your job. The attendant did as she was told, although nobody ever used the room. 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. Its not uncommon for people to commit suicide on a cruise . On March 22, 2011, while working on the Disney Wonder, Coriam disappeared. There are simply too many cooks stirring this particular pot of murky broth. My theory: sailing was a last-minute decision to meet up with the crew member with whom she was having a relationship. Sometimes the obvious is the answer. This person jumped. Voters will soon get a say, California Republicans give a boost to Florida Gov. She told him she planned to go upstairs later, but did not want to visit the dining room. There is absolutely no strong indication or proof that she committed suicide, especially since there was no record of her leaving her room. Your email address will not be published. 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. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison when sentenced Nov. 8. Paul White, a friend of McGill who taught with him at three Los Angeles County schools for troubled teens, described the crime as unbelievable. Cruise Ship Killers | Season 1 | Episode 16 | Erica | John Barnard | J.H. He also learned hed been lied to about the surveillance footage, which had been kept for onemonth, not three days. 10 Ships That Simply Vanished Without A Trace. Moncrieff. What a frustrating story. One thing many tourists dont realize is that American cruise ships sail under foreign flags, which allows them to circumvent US lawsand taxes. They believe he was murdered. They had sailed on the Elation to celebrate their pending retirement. The entire set-up was a bit weird (why did she not have a suitcase?). People who are determined and serious about committing suicide are good at hiding sadness. The coast guard began an 84-hour search that spanned 25,900 square kilometers (10,000 mi2), but they were unable to find Fariba. This video is currently unavailable. (Names and other identifying details were changed on the show for legal reasons.). Though there is no evidence she even attempted suicide in the past, this history gave the Royal Caribbean the ammunition it needed. 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. Sadly, well probably never know the answers. The cruise lines are currently losing a massive amount of money daily, with their ships just sitting around. 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. Colombia wants to deport "cocaine hippos" to stop them from multiplying She had made her decision and once they make that decision they do seem happy. RIP, Kendall Carver. If you agree, well also use cookies to complement your shopping experience across the Amazon stores as described in our Cookie Notice. They are not thinking of the the pain and devastation they are going to leave behind. 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Its not good publicity and results in very costly lawsuits. 2023 J.H. Everybody loved her. She had danced all night with members of Rhapsodys band, Blue Orchid. "They were childhood sweethearts.". 2 talking about this. Some theories claimed that he was thrown overboard by the men with whom he was arguing. So she didnt bring a lot of clothes with her. Thats why she never said a word to anyone about he going in a cruise. He drank heavily in Cabo that day before re-boarding the ship for the trip home. She embarked upon a seven-day cruise from Seattle, Washington to Alaska. 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.