One thing I learned from Cruise Ship Killers: never use the casino, or tell people youre going to the washroom. "And I said, 'No, she didn't. Robert McGill was arrested when the ship docked in San Diego. But Barnett's friends and family say Carnival has been stonewalling them. 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. Did someone aboard see her before she disappeared? A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. Jennifer claimed that she did not remember much from the previous night, and nobody ever admitted to knowing anything about Smiths disappearance. This includes using first- and third-party cookies, which store or access standard device information such as a unique identifier. A honeymoon cruise goes awry when the bride is allegedly blown off a balcony in the middle of the night. Merrian booked passage on the cruise only two days before it sailed, and brought two handbags, but no suitcases, on board. #inline-recirc-item--id-d44635f2-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { A former crew member contacted Carver and told him that Merrian had been having a relationship with another, unidentified crew member. I really dont have the words to make anyone feel better, said McGill. Jim Cross, spokesman for the Department of Justice in Kansas, identified Tucker as Newman's girlfriend but declined to comment further on the case. But when the weather report comes in showing no wind, a murder investigation begins. A passenger aboard Brilliance of the Seas claimed that he heard men arguing in the Smiths room. According to his own words in assorted testimonies and media reports, the grieving father met with roadblocks whenever he tried to get answers about what had happened to his daughter. There have been many theories about her disappearance, but none have been proven to be true. Sorry, there was a problem saving your cookie preferences. I wonder if she was in a relationship with the stewards supervisor and thats why he covered it up. But he never returned to their cabin.[6]. 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. 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). "Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased and her family. 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. 1996-2022, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. She threw a few things into a bag, intending to buy new things in port. She is survived by a son, her obituary said, according to the newspaper. display: block; She disappeared without a trace. Spending my holiday on a floating hotel never appealed, but even less so now. 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. (Names and other identifying details were changed on the show for legal reasons.). Me too, Birgit. When he returned to their cabin, Fariba was not there. In 2005, Hue Pham, 71, and Hue Tran, 67, took a seven-night Mothers Day cruise in the Caribbean with their daughter and granddaughter. 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. "She had no patience with drugs. After hanging up the phone, she walked away, never to be seen again.[3]. Shirley McGill, 55, was killed on July 14, 2009, aboard the Carnival cruise ship Elation. 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. They said that his death could have resulted from an accident, but his family was never convinced. He drank heavily in Cabo that day before re-boarding the ship for the trip home. No body was ever found. Did the pressure of the kitchen make her take her own life or did foul play occur? They had been high school sweethearts who reunited through the Internet and married in 2003. SAN DIEGO (CBS/ AP) They were former high school sweethearts who found each other decades later and renewed their love. Are you a fan of unsolved mysteries? To celebrate, she booked the cruise with her boyfriend. Required fields are marked *. When they asked about his wife, he told them he had killed her, according to court records. Everybody loved her. She ordered 2 sandwiches and to me its kinda strange. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. And inside was Shirley McGills body in a pool of blood on the bathroom floor, with blood splattered around the cabin. White said he worked with McGill for nearly 11 years and knew him to be calm and pleasant. He made his initial court appearance on Thursday, prosecutors said, and his detention hearing is set for Sept. 12. The ship had left Jacksonville, Florida, the day before. 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. I wake up every morning praying that no other mother ever has to live this nightmare. 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. On the second day of the cruise, a cabin attendant noticed that the bed had not been used and reported it to the boss. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son I would bet he was married and wanted to keep it hush. Definitely something fishy here, and I dont mean Alaskan salmon. The couple, who had been married for 49 years, mysteriously vanished while on the Carnival Cruise Line ship. "Are they ashamed of something?" Suicidal people are not thinking clearly. There are other explanations for that, though. "They're suffering now," McGill was heard saying as he gestured to his family. Hougardy said Shirley McGill planned to move to Oregon, where her family and her children from a previous marriage lived. He was initially charged with first-degree murder. 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. 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. I killed Shirley by accident, well not by accident. This is my theory. No one secured her cabin. The captain of the ship waited about three hours before finally turning around and dropping rescue boats to search for Mizener. In court documents, his lawyers said that he had at least 20 drinks, including beer, hard liquor and mescal. The latest involves the sudden death of an aspiring actress during a Carnival cruise in October. Im wondering, though: How does anyone know how many clothes Merrian brought on board? That was the last known sighting of Merrian alive. They truly are the wild west. 10 Ships That Simply Vanished Without A Trace. He also learned hed been lied to about the surveillance footage, which had been kept for onemonth, not three days. 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. i too believe she was murdered. He took her body to a place he could hide it to dispose of it later. My overall impression is that more than one person is covering up, for reasons of their own. This video is currently unavailable. ), but why would someone kill her? The entire set-up was a bit weird (why did she not have a suitcase?). Newlyweds board a cruise ship, but things take a turn for the worse when one disappears in the middle of the night. The cruise liner company most definitely withheld vital information if you were being charitable you could say through total incompetence on their part. "On Oct. 15, 2005," Allred told a news conference, "Ashley's boyfriend ran into the hallway screaming for help. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Thats why she never said a word to anyone about he going in a cruise. It was not unusual for Merrian to go off on spur-of-the-moment trips without telling anyone, and since her daughter was staying with her ex-husband for the summer, it might have seemed like a good opportunity. Merrian didnt use the cruise ships currency card during the two days she was on board. 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. 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? 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. None of Merrians family members or friends had any idea shed gone on a cruise, but this wasnt out of character. Because you dont have that. The 63-year-old man disappeared while on a holiday cruise in Egypt. He has never been named or located, though many believe he found work on a different ship. Two years later, he married Shirley McGill in Las Vegas. I tend to doubt it. Skeletal remains found in Pennsylvania identified as man missing since 2013 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. An average of ten Americans disappear from cruise ships every year. The coast guard began an 84-hour search that spanned 25,900 square kilometers (10,000 mi2), but they were unable to find Fariba. "The ships medical team responded immediately, but, unfortunately, she passed away.". The luggage contained gifts that he had purchased for his wife and children. Why wouldnt the stewards supervisor have sounded an alarm when informed she was missingif he had nothing to hide? There are simply too many cooks stirring this particular pot of murky broth. What do you think happened to Merrian? 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. A savvy poker player cleans up at the tables once at sea. Robert McGill was not in the room when the body was found, but was taken into custody by ship security later on, authorities said. Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Fascination was near Miami on the final night of the trip when Caldwell disappeared. He just always said to me, he said, theres more to this story than has been reported.. I feel the same way, Kimberlythat it was a crime. "I know that she would never have knowingly or willingly ingested that," Jamie said. But when she doesn't check in with her family members back home, they begin to suspect something bad has befallen her. Another passenger heard furniture being moved around inside the room, and Jennifer was later found passed out in a hallway.[2]. 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. Meanwhile, Merrians13-year-old daughter, who lived with her dad, grew concerned when she couldnt reach her mother on the telephone. She left the band around 1:00 AM, and her father noticed her sleeping on their cabin balcony around 5:30 AM. The couple had been high school sweethearts and then broke up. After he admitted killing his wife . Her family hasnt received any answers as to why or how she went missing while aboard the cruise ship. 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. Moncrieff, Damian Turner #CruiseShipKillers #CrimeTV #BreakthroughEntertainment 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. McGill was going to join her when he retired. During at least one of his visits, she was wearing a nightshirt and underwear. In fact, the police only learned of her disappearance when her father filed a missing persons report days later. On a whole other topic I really enjoyed Mask of Ghosts, J.H. 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. Wheres your wife, Shirley? ", When she died, Barnett was working for composer John Debny, who remarked to Lagattuta: "No one is forthcoming. My guess is she was pregnant and he didnt want any part of that. The same thing happened with Elisa Lam. There was also an envelope which may have included a suicide note. A Carnival 'Elation' cruise ship in Nassau, Bahamas appears in this undated stock photo. My theory: sailing was a last-minute decision to meet up with the crew member with whom she was having a relationship. Her father reported her missing to the authorities on the cruise line, and the ship docked at Curacao, Antilles.[1]. 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. She had danced all night with members of Rhapsodys band, Blue Orchid. A surprise cruise holiday for a husband and wife from Olympia, Washington ends up with one of them going overboard. Or was it something more sinister? Carver was never seen again. Oh, that was kind of a joke, but from the show, thats when people tended to disappear. horror and suspense author J.H. People who are determined and serious about committing suicide are good at hiding sadness. The case went to trial in August 2005, which was when he at last saw a copy of the security report, which he felt clearly indicated a cover up. He was excited. 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. 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. Their marriage was the most important thing in his life," Paul White, a teacher at the school where McGill taught, told the AP. "I saw Bob a couple days before they left. Clues to her disappearance are detailed in a diary discovered in her cabin. After they were unsuccessful, the United States Coast Guard and the Mexican Navy were alerted and joined the search. Stinnett noted in the court papers that Robert McGill's knuckles "appeared as if he had been in a fight.". 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. The search for his body was called off after four days.[4]. Daniel Kueblboeck, a German pop star, was famous for a short time on the talent show Germany Seeks the Superstar. Calls to McGill's attorney were not immediately returned. Son Noel Salazar said that whatever McGill had accomplished it could not outweigh the killing, which has devastated the family. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Wow, this is incredibly crazy on a number of levels not the least of which is the way that cruise ships operate with impunity and no sense for the safety of their passengers. Some theories claim that she was swept overboard while at the pool. Early that morning, Bradley went missing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Forge said the brutal death of Shirley McGill overshadowed her husbands career. The 40-year-old woman vanished from a Royal Caribbean ship that nobody in her family even knew she had boarded. 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. He was told the ships surveillance cameras automatically erase any footage after only three days. Ashley Episode 1 - 44 mins Why wouldnt the cruise-ship employees want to find out the truth? A passenger stated that a nearby camera for that deck was covered, so there was no footage of her. In 2010, Rebecca Coriam started working for Disney Cruise Line and spent months visiting several ports in the Bahamas. }, First published on July 20, 2009 / 11:30 AM. So he killed her. Shirley McGill was beaten and strangled to death on the bathroom floor of a cruise ship cabin at the hands of her husband. Life is mystery, McGill reportedly said. There should have still been footage from the time his daughter disappeared when he first contacted them. Though there is no evidence she even attempted suicide in the past, this history gave the Royal Caribbean the ammunition it needed. Several people have vanished aboard cruise liners, leaving their friends and families heartbroken and confused. They say her body was left with the coroner in Mexico while the cruise, and her boyfriend, continued on. He spent an hour searching for her on the ship.[7]. Theyre floating petri dishes at the best of times. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Its not good publicity and results in very costly lawsuits. Later that night, he pummeled his wife inside the cabin, then strangled her. Heres what we know, Governors declaration allows Los Angeles County to get reimbursed, Who will replace ex-LA councilmember Nury Martinez? Third parties use cookies for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalised ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. The official cause of death was listed as toxic effects of methadone, but Barnett's family insists she never did drugs. Barnett's family hired lawyer Gloria Allred in their search for answers. A family of four takes a cruise of a lifetime, but only three return home; their desperate search for their missing adult daughter begins, with all signs pointing to a kidnapping. } Jamie founded Listverse due to an insatiable desire to share fascinating, obscure, and bizarre facts. No one filed a police report; no one contacted the family. 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. When he goes missing, all signs point to foul play. Its a shame and I am shocked by how many disappearances occur on cruise ships. Friends and neighbors said they were shocked to learn of the charge. She was last seen when the ship was around 48 kilometers (30 mi) off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico. So she didnt bring a lot of clothes with her. A German college student working aboard on a cruise ship goes missing at an Alaskan port. I killed her.. Ashley. 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. Good questions. Your email address will not be published. We also use these cookies to understand how customers use our services (for example, by measuring site visits) so we can make improvements. Cruise Ship Murders A person that is killed by someone, the involvement of a perpetrator is required and where suicide is excluded. Colombia wants to deport "cocaine hippos" to stop them from multiplying Shirley McGill retired last week from the state Department of Motor Vehicles, and her husband had planned to retire soon as well, acquaintances said. Everyone has dark moments in their lives, and its a shame they can be used against us if we go missing. The couple was on a five-day cruise to Mexico, and it was the husband's 55th birthday. By this point, she had been missing for twenty-six days. "They were childhood sweethearts.". But when a cruise line is at fault or a cruise line member is involved Im sure you get the brick wall. Happens every single day. They might have erased the surveillance tapes when they saw the crime. Thesupervisor whod dismissed the stewards concerns was fired and ushered off the ship before the FBI could speak to him. Nearly six months later, what happened aboard the ship remains a mystery. Was she OK? Sometimes the obvious is the answer. Moncrieff Breakthrough Entertainment 108K subscribers Subscribe 2.2K 222K views 1 year ago #BreakthroughEntertainment. Almarosa Tenorio Passenger Death Aboard Royal Princess On Tuesday November 13, 2018, Almarosa Tenorio, 52, a teacher fromSpanish Fort, Alabama was aboard Princess Cruises shipRoyal Princess when she fell to her death. But her family said she would have stayed away from there. Why wasnt the FBI or other authorities given the opportunity to speak to him? About The Author: Im just another bearded guy trying to write my way through life. Shirley McGill, 55, was killed on July 14, 2009, aboard the Carnival cruise ship Elation. Sadly, well probably never know the answers. Yes, its safe to assume those were not her remains, as its never been confirmed. / CBS News. 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. However, he only did this because he was ordered to do so by the coast guard. Thats terrible that the cruise line basically covered it up. It was believed that he had fallen overboard, and the coast guard spent 36 hours looking for his body. 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?). 1 Hue Pham And Hue Tran. A blood-stained canopy is the only telltale sign of a young mans fate, leaving many more questions than answers to what 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,. Do you know anything about the claims by Canadian authorities that they thought the found Merrians bones? 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. Some theories claimed that he was thrown overboard by the men with whom he was arguing. Witnesses aboard the ship claim they saw someone jump overboard around 6:00 AM the day he went missing. U.S. District Magistrate William McCurine Jr. entered. Another guest on the cruise, a volunteer fireman, heard the boyfriend's screams and started CPR, and instructed him to call 911.". How much he had is not known, but witnesses said he could barely walk when he returned to the ship. MoncrieffWebsite By Elise Epp Design and Amanda Weber. They had sailed on the Elation to celebrate their pending retirement. The bottom line is if they had not been drinking, you can almost go to the bank that it would not have happened.. As 48 Hours Mystery correspondent Bill Lagattuta reports, Ashley Barnett's family is desperate for. Try again. Ok so where the video. When she showed up he told her where to meet her or he had done something to keep her quiet. She spent time by herself and didnt want to go to the dinner. SIGN UP FOR SNEAK PEEKS OF MY NEXT BOOK + NEWSLETTER-ONLY UPDATES. Smith vanished after a long night of drinking and gambling at the ships casino. Wouldnt they want to find out the truth if someone disappears? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. A generous tip and a manilla envelope with unknown contents had been left behind, along with all of her belongings, including her only shoes.
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