This was a strange cruise case. Shes dead, said McGill, then 55, according to court papers. In 2005, Hue Pham, 71, and Hue Tran, 67, took a seven-night Mothers Day cruise in the Caribbean with their daughter and granddaughter. The cruise line maintained theyd had no reports about his daughter during the cruise, and refused to reveal the name of Merrians steward. 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. Merrian Carvers disappearance from a cruise ship around Alaska in 2004 is one of the more absurd stories. The passports belonged to Hue Pham and Hue Tran.[10]. i read a lot of true crime, watch documentaries, id tv, forensic files.the criminal mind fascinates me. "And I said, 'No, she didn't. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. When he goes missing, all signs point to foul play. And she had so many things yet to accomplish.". The bottom line is if they had not been drinking, you can almost go to the bank that it would not have happened.. 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,. Was it revenge, jealousy or a murderous impulse at sea? Thesupervisor whod dismissed the stewards concerns was fired and ushered off the ship before the FBI could speak to him. The captain of the ship waited about three hours before finally turning around and dropping rescue boats to search for Mizener. Then during the interview, he telephoned one of his two grown sons. A Topeka, Kansas, man was arrested this week for allegedly killing his girlfriend on a cruise ship in January, prosecutors said. 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. 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. 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). The FBI says the investigation is ongoing. A successful businessman takes a luxury cruise with two of his former classmates. They had pleaded with Gonzalez to impose the maximum sentence. Shirley McGills children sounded a different note. She didnt have enough close for a full trip. When Carver contacted Royal Caribbean to confirm his daughter had been on the ship, it took them three days to get back to him. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Its so easy to claim every disappearance on a cruise ship is suicidetoo easy. 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. Merrian booked passage on the cruise only two days before it sailed, and brought two handbags, but no suitcases, on board. Ill tell you all about it.. Though there is no evidence she even attempted suicide in the past, this history gave the Royal Caribbean the ammunition it needed. i believe this is one of the reasons why. The day after they boarded in Long Beach, Calif., Barnett was dead. Thats why, not knowing the details of her murder, it just seems inconceivable. His reaction does seem strange. Her father was a hero. 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. 7 The Murder-Suicide Couple Salem couple found dead on cruise ship Darla J. Mellinger-Banner, 56, and John C. Banner, 56, of Salem, a suburb of Youngstown, Ohio, were known to Salem police after a December 21, 2014, incident where Darla Banner was injured in a knife accident. He disappeared after reportedly either jumping or falling from a cruise ship. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Your email address will not be published. Newlyweds board a cruise ship, but things take a turn for the worse when one disappears in the middle of the night. As 48 Hours Mystery correspondent Bill Lagattuta reports, Ashley Barnett's family is desperate for answers. 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. 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. August 18, 2022. i too believe she was murdered. Sadly, he passed away in December 2019 without ever finding out what became of Merrian. Why wouldnt the stewards supervisor have sounded an alarm when informed she was missingif he had nothing to hide? So she didnt raise her voice or yell/scream. Smith vanished after a long night of drinking and gambling at the ships casino. "She said, 'I'm terribly, terribly sorry to tell you your daughter passed away today,' " Jamie Barnett told Lagattuta. The search for his body was called off after four days.[4]. Or was it something more sinister? 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. Shirley McGill, 55, was killed on July 14, 2009, aboard the Carnival cruise ship Elation. I really dont have the words to make anyone feel better, said McGill. 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. 16+. Did the pressure of the kitchen make her take her own life or did foul play occur? 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. July 20, 2009 / 11:30 AM McGill was divorced when he reconnected with Shirley through the Internet, colleagues said. Sorry, there was a problem saving your cookie preferences. Afterward, he changed clothes and went up to a deck, smoked a cigar and had more beer with another couple. Tamara Loraine Tucker Cruise Ship Passenger Murder Carnival Elation. 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. He was excited. Dana Bartholomew has been a general assignment reporter since 2000 for the Los Angeles Daily News. 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. Son Noel Salazar said that whatever McGill had accomplished it could not outweigh the killing, which has devastated the family. "They're suffering now," McGill was heard saying as he gestured to his family. The 40-year-old woman vanished from a Royal Caribbean ship that nobody in her family even knew she had boarded. Sorry for the late response. Its really scary. 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. Thousands of people embark on cruises each year to enjoy vacations, holidays, and honeymoons with family and friends. The amount of people who go missing or who are murdered on cruise lines is disproportionate. The entire set-up was a bit weird (why did she not have a suitcase?). Theres just not one industry to blame in that case. If the manilla envelope contained a suicide note, why didnt the cruise line release it, since it would have proven their theory? Her father reported her missing to the authorities on the cruise line, and the ship docked at Curacao, Antilles.[1]. 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. None of Merrians family members or friends had any idea shed gone on a cruise, but this wasnt out of character. However, he only did this because he was ordered to do so by the coast guard. "Bob and Shirley never said anything negative about each other," Michael Hougardy, a neighbor in McGills' cul-de-sac in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, told The Associated Press. Colombia wants to deport "cocaine hippos" to stop them from multiplying "Are they ashamed of something?" 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.. 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. Required fields are marked *. She embarked upon a seven-day cruise from Seattle, Washington to Alaska. Try again. Everyone has dark moments in their lives, and its a shame they can be used against us if we go missing. 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. In 2010, Rebecca Coriam started working for Disney Cruise Line and spent months visiting several ports in the Bahamas. 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. "They were childhood sweethearts.". Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Fascination was near Miami on the final night of the trip when Caldwell disappeared. Everyone would assume she went overboard. But her body was never found. He was initially charged with first-degree murder. Frustrated, Carverhired one of the largest private investigation firms in the country, but this resulted in more questions than answers. Li Yinglei, 36, embarked on a MSC Cruises MSC Magnifica 10-day Mediterranean cruise with her husband Daniel [], Shirley Timmons, Cruise Ship Passenger Murdered, Terrorist Attack in Ft Lauderdale, Airport January 6, 2017, Time of Death 12:50 On January 6, 2017, at approximately 12:56 p.m., Shirley Timmons, 70, a cruise ship passenger from [], Terry Andres, Cruise Ship Passenger Murdered, Terrorist Attack in Ft Lauderdale Airport January 6, 2017, Time of Death 12:50 On January 6, 2017, at approximately 12:56 p.m., Terry Andres, 62, a cruise ship passenger from [], Terrorist Attack in Ft Lauderdale Airport January 6, 2017, Time of Death 12:50 On January 6, 2017, at approximately 12:56 p.m., Mary Louise Amzibel, 69, from Dover, Delaware was in the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport [], Tammy Grogan Passenger Cruise Ship Death Overboard Carnival Imagination Calica Mexico, Julie Kay Maxwell Golden Passenger Cruise Ship Death Adventure of the Seas, James C Harte Passenger Cruise Ship Death Veendam, Monique Teresia Van der Steenstraeten Passenger Cruise Ship Death Overboard Discovery Sun, Anna Louise Legner Brunetti Foster Passenger Cruise Ship Death Aboard Carnival Inspiration, Chandraprakash Beersee Norwegian Joy Crew Heart Attack Death, Cliford B. Minej Aurora Cruise Ship Crew Member Overboard, Holland America Chef, Professor Nina Landgraff Cruise Ship Passenger Death, Joan Krohn Passenger Cruise Ship Death Aboard Carnival Destiny Puerto Rico, 2022 Cruise Ship Wave - The Cruise Ship Wave Network. Given the last minute cruise reservation, one outfit, the divorce and losing custody of her daughter, I believe Merriam committed suicide. Everybody loved her. But her family said she would have stayed away from there. Hougardy said Shirley McGill planned to move to Oregon, where her family and her children from a previous marriage lived. What do you think happened to Merrian? 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. The 33-year-old was aboard an AIDA Cruises ship for a holiday from Hamburg to New York when he went missing. 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. Maybe the supervisor steward thought he may get into trouble having to report a suicide. Pull back the curtain and see how a suspense writer puts the thrills and chills together. Carverhired Massachusetts and Florida lawyers to dig in the case, which resulted in two cruise-line employees giving telephone depositions in January 2005. Robert McGill sat on deck atop the Carnival cruise ship Elation, smoking a cigar and drinking out of a bucket of beers. The 63-year-old man disappeared while on a holiday cruise in Egypt. To me, suicide is a silent because we dont always recognize the signs until theyve passed. "She had no patience with drugs. The couple, who had been married for 49 years, mysteriously vanished while on the Carnival Cruise Line ship. Their son, Michael Pham, testified before Congress to urge tougher regulation of safety practices on cruise lines. Witnesses aboard the ship claim they saw someone jump overboard around 6:00 AM the day he went missing. 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). 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. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie Preferences, as described in the Cookie Notice. No body was ever found. / CBS News. 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. Her family has hired its own investigator, and hopes for a meeting with officials from Carnival. Whatever decency Mr. McGill had, he left on the floor of that bathroom next to Shirleys beaten, bleeding and broken body, Forge said. 2. Merrian didnt use the cruise ships currency card during the two days she was on board. i have been on numerous cruises, but will probably never step on board one again. Shirley McGill, 55, was killed on July 14, 2009, aboard the Carnival cruise ship Elation. Seriously! But after she witnesses a man overboard, many begin to wonder if it was accidental or on purpose - and who is next? Neither her family or International Cruise Victims, the organization her father founded, were notified. 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. The whereabouts of Fariba remain unknown, but her family suspects that Ramiz may have had something to do with her disappearance. Voters will soon get a say, California Republicans give a boost to Florida Gov. In 2004 a 40-year-old lady named Merrian was taking a cruise to Alaska on board the Celebrity Mercury. Crime A farmer and his wife take a cruise celebrating their hard work and good fortune in life. 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. SAN DIEGO (CBS/ AP) They were former high school sweethearts who found each other decades later and renewed their love. The couple was on a five-day cruise to Mexico, and it was the husbands 55th birthday. 10 Ships That Simply Vanished Without A Trace. Robert McGill was not in the room when the body was found, but was taken into custody by ship security later on, authorities said. Halfords suitcases were found sitting outside his cabins door, which is required for guests on the last night of the cruise. Hi J.H., did you see the post by a Law firm that bones were found on a Canadian island and they think they are Merrians? 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. display: none; Theyre floating petri dishes at the best of times. Wheres your wife, Shirley? But now I am that much less likely to ever subject myself to that pleasure. Though, I now think its a great setting for a thriller novel. Aztecs to honor 8 on Senior Night against Wyoming, but are all of them leaving? I wonder if shed planned to buy some in one of the ports. The cruise lines are currently losing a massive amount of money daily, with their ships just sitting around. Another passenger heard furniture being moved around inside the room, and Jennifer was later found passed out in a hallway.[2]. The couple had been high school sweethearts and then broke up. ". I must tell you, no one that we talked with has been very forthcoming. If you agree, well also use cookies to complement your shopping experience across the Amazon stores as described in our Cookie Notice. Tucker's obituary had described Newman, 53, as her "partner and longtime love," The Kansas City Star reported. congratulations on the documentary. 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 killed Shirley by accident, well not by accident. There is absolutely no strong indication or proof that she committed suicide, especially since there was no record of her leaving her room. 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. A professors assistant goes missing at sea near the end of a long voyage. A retired teacher takes a solo Great Lakes cruise toward a family reunion. His body was never found. Ok so where the video. 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. In 2015, the FBI closed their investigation into the disappearance of Smith. I feel the same way, Kimberlythat it was a crime. Robert McGill was arrested when the ship docked in San Diego. 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. No one secured her cabin. She had danced all night with members of Rhapsodys band, Blue Orchid. The investigator was allowed onto the ship, but wasnt permitted to speak to anyone, including the ships security officer. Allred asked at the news conference.