Click Customise Cookies to decline these cookies, make more detailed choices, or learn more. The Royal Caribbeandid contact the FBI, but not until Merrian had been missing for five weeks. Though there is no evidence she even attempted suicide in the past, this history gave the Royal Caribbean the ammunition it needed. The supervisor said, Just forget it, and do your job. The attendant did as she was told, although nobody ever used the room. And she had so many things yet to accomplish.". 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. The family says Barnett's boyfriend told them he had no idea what happened. He also learned hed been lied to about the surveillance footage, which had been kept for onemonth, not three days. ", When she died, Barnett was working for composer John Debny, who remarked to Lagattuta: "No one is forthcoming. The latest involves the sudden death of an aspiring actress during a Carnival cruise in October. i believe this is one of the reasons why. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. / CBS News. Paul White, a friend of McGill who taught with him at three Los Angeles County schools for troubled teens, described the crime as unbelievable. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son But he never returned to their cabin.[6]. 1 Hue Pham And Hue Tran. She didnt have enough close for a full trip. A detention hearing in the case is set for July 23, with a preliminary hearing on July 30. I believe she left the large amount of tip for the gentleman who was concerned most about her disappearance. 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. Shirley McGill, 55, was killed on July 14, 2009, aboard the Carnival cruise ship Elation. Security officers found a privacy please sign on the locked doorknob. Two years later, he married Shirley McGill in Las Vegas. 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. Jamie founded Listverse due to an insatiable desire to share fascinating, obscure, and bizarre facts. The cruise liner company most definitely withheld vital information if you were being charitable you could say through total incompetence on their part. Ok so where the video. That last evening, he and his fiancee had gone to dinner with some friends they met on the cruise. Well seems to me she was having an affair with an unnamed cruise member. 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). Directors John Barnard Ian Bawa Writers Chris Charney (story editor) Carolyn Gray Stars John Barnard congratulations on the documentary. He was excited. Ashley. Moncrieff, Damian Turner #CruiseShipKillers #CrimeTV #BreakthroughEntertainment Neither her family or International Cruise Victims, the organization her father founded, were notified. The ship had left Jacksonville, Florida, the day before. SIGN UP FOR SNEAK PEEKS OF MY NEXT BOOK + NEWSLETTER-ONLY UPDATES. Was she OK? It wasn't immediately clear to what McGill was referring. None of Merrians family members or friends had any idea shed gone on a cruise, but this wasnt out of character. She left the band around 1:00 AM, and her father noticed her sleeping on their cabin balcony around 5:30 AM. Oh, that was kind of a joke, but from the show, thats when people tended to disappear. 112 The Disappearance of Merrian Carver, 10 People Who Vanished Only To Mysteriously Reappear, 10 Civilizations That Mysteriously Vanished, 10 Eerie Last Words Of People Who Then Vanished, Top 10 Remarkable Finds Involving Old Ships And Explorers, 10 Expeditions That Mysteriously Disappeared, Top 10 Secrets Of Life Aboard A Cruise Ship, 10 Fascinating Finds And Stories Involving Old Ships, 10 People Who Claim To Be Reincarnations Of Other People, 10 Controversial Toys You Might Already Have in Your Home, Ten Absolutely Vicious Fights over Inherited Fortunes, 10 Female Film Pioneers Who Shaped the Movies, Ten True Tales from Americas Toughest Prison, 10 Times Members of Secretive Societies and Organizations Spilled the Beans, 10 Common Idioms with Unexpectedly Dark Origins, 10 North American Animals with Misplaced Reputations, Top 10 Bloody 20th-Century Mysteries Well Probably Never Solve. But Barnett's friends and family say Carnival has been stonewalling them. Shes dead, said McGill, then 55, according to court papers. The manilla envelope and the money Merrian had left in her room disappeared with him, along with other personal belongings. The cruise line and the Netherlands Antilles Coast Guard spent days looking for Amy, but the search ceased on March 29. i have been on numerous cruises, but will probably never step on board one again. Police and the FBI also failed to find any evidence or trace of her during their investigation on the ship. Whatever decency Mr. McGill had, he left on the floor of that bathroom next to Shirleys beaten, bleeding and broken body, Forge said. The couple had been high school sweethearts and then broke up. 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. Others say that she jumped or fell from the deck. There are other explanations for that, though. If this happened as a cruise meme wr he probably knew every nook and cranny of the ship. I honestly think someone killed her; I dont believe it was suicide. 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. And if she planned on committing suicide, why the round-trip ticket? Alex Murdaugh found guilty of murders of wife and son They said that his death could have resulted from an accident, but his family was never convinced. There is absolutely no strong indication or proof that she committed suicide, especially since there was no record of her leaving her room. "Are they ashamed of something?" Robert McGill sat on deck atop the Carnival cruise ship Elation, smoking a cigar and drinking out of a bucket of beers. 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. When she mentioned the same wish the following night, he suggested ordering room service, and then brought her two sandwiches at her request. Stinnett noted in the court papers that Robert McGill's knuckles "appeared as if he had been in a fight.". Good questions. McGill told a Carnival investigator he had argued with his wife and punched her once in the stomach. There should have still been footage from the time his daughter disappeared when he first contacted them. Bring me to brig or security office and check my cabin R24.. White said he worked with McGill for nearly 11 years and knew him to be calm and pleasant. First published on April 5, 2006 / 8:22 AM. The 33-year-old was aboard an AIDA Cruises ship for a holiday from Hamburg to New York when he went missing. Is it on TV yet? The attorney who handled the case did not immediately return a call seeking comment. They really enjoyed it. I feel the same. The couple was on a five-day cruise to Mexico, and it was the husband's 55th birthday. 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. 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. 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. The bartender said that Caldwell had appeared to be very drunk, but the barkeep did not help his customer back to his room. Witnesses aboard the ship claim they saw someone jump overboard around 6:00 AM the day he went missing. Just saw the episode and it was a real eye-opener. 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. 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sometimes the obvious is the answer. Shirleys dead and I killed her, he said, according to the court papers. Her dad returned to the balcony at 6:00 AM to check on Amy, but she was no longer there. Allred asked at the news conference. I agree, JD. Im wondering, though: How does anyone know how many clothes Merrian brought on board? She had made her decision and once they make that decision they do seem happy. McGill was going to join her when he retired. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Why wouldnt the cruise-ship employees want to find out the truth? "On Oct. 15, 2005," Allred told a news conference, "Ashley's boyfriend ran into the hallway screaming for help. He was initially charged with first-degree murder. 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 might have erased the surveillance tapes when they saw the crime. 2 talking about this. When they asked about his wife, he told them he had killed her, according to court records. In 2005, Hue Pham, 71, and Hue Tran, 67, took a seven-night Mothers Day cruise in the Caribbean with their daughter and granddaughter. In 2010, Rebecca Coriam started working for Disney Cruise Line and spent months visiting several ports in the Bahamas. In 2004 a 40-year-old lady named Merrian was taking a cruise to Alaska on board the Celebrity Mercury. The cruise lines are currently losing a massive amount of money daily, with their ships just sitting around. Moncrieff, Damian Turner #CruiseShipKillers #CrimeTV #BreakthroughEntertainment When Ramiz woke up, Fariba still had not returned. } When Monteiro checked on Merrians cabin the following morning, her bed had not been slept in. A full search and rescue mission began after family members realized the couple was missing, but the mission failed to find anyone. Through investigating her financial records, the police discovered credit-card charges for the round trip to Seattle and the Alaskan cruise. 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. MoncrieffWebsite By Elise Epp Design and Amanda Weber. He loved her with all his heart, White, a Ventura resident, said in an interview. I killed her.. 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. RIP, Kendall Carver. Perhaps you can help us figure out what happened to Julie Weflen. My overall impression is that more than one person is covering up, for reasons of their own. Barnett was just turning 25. I havent read any comments so maybe others already brought up this theory. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. There have been many theories about her disappearance, but none have been proven to be true. They say her body was left with the coroner in Mexico while the cruise, and her boyfriend, continued on. On May 12, a ship employee found two passports, two pairs of flip-flops, two drivers licenses, medication, and a wallet containing cash and credit cards. [5], 10 People Who Mysteriously Vanished While Traveling. She supposedly was having a relationship with an unidentified cruise member. 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. 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. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Couldnt happen to nicer companies, Mark. "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. Maybe his concern wasnt that genuine and he knew something. Dana Bartholomew has been a general assignment reporter since 2000 for the Los Angeles Daily News. Ashley Episode 1 - 44 mins The 63-year-old man disappeared while on a holiday cruise in Egypt. I cant say I ever seriously considered going on a cruise: trapped on a boat with strangers isnt my idea of fun. Manzanares who was a mother of three [], Simone Scheuer Souza, 36, fromSo Paulo, Brazil was a housekeeping crew member aboard MSC Cruises cruise shipMSC Musica when she went overboard onMonday, June 19, 2017 while the cruise ship was sailing betweenVenice to Brindisi, [], Adriana Morales de Florencio, 24,Crew Member Murder,Navigator of the Seas, Murder Adriana Morales de Florencio, 24, was a Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Navigator o9f the Seas crew member who went missing after she disembarked the [], Li Yinglei,Allegedly Murdered by Husband,Thrown Overboard MSC Magnifica Off Italy Coast February 10, 2017, Time of Death Unknown. Robert McGill was arrested when the ship docked in San Diego. #inline-recirc-item--id-d44635f2-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Her father was a hero. The entire set-up was a bit weird (why did she not have a suitcase?). The cruise line maintained theyd had no reports about his daughter during the cruise, and refused to reveal the name of Merrians steward. Here are 10 times that people mysteriously disappeared from cruise ships. How much he had is not known, but witnesses said he could barely walk when he returned to the ship. 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. The cruise ship was off the coast of Canada when the incident occurred. On May 12, a ship employee found two passports, two pairs of flip-flops . While on a family cruise to the Caribbean, Amy Lynn Bradley mysteriously vanished from the Royal Caribbean International Cruise Lines Rhapsody of the Seas. A millionaire widower and her teenaged daughter take a fivestar cruise together. But when the weather report comes in for the evening showing no wind, a murder investigation begins. Its horrible that cruise lines have so much power to do whatever they please and cover up anything that is questionable. And inside was Shirley McGills body in a pool of blood on the bathroom floor, with blood splattered around the cabin. Here are prices in 10 communities. Its a shame and I am shocked by how many disappearances occur on cruise ships. Shirley McGills children sounded a different note. Thats terrible that the cruise line basically covered it up. "He's a great friend, he's great with kids, he's a great dad, he's a great husband," White said. I killed Shirley by accident, well not by accident. Eric Newman appears in this 2013 mugshot provided by the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Cruise Ship Killers Season 1 (2) 2021 NR 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. She was wearing mens clothing and seemed visibly distressed. What a fascinating, yet scary, and helpless story! She never got off the boat via record. He noticed she only had two handbags (purses), one dress, and one pair of sandals. There are simply too many cooks stirring this particular pot of murky broth. 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. Authorities believe that she fell or was pushed overboard, but some strange facts emerged about her vanishing. Jennifer claimed that she did not remember much from the previous night, and nobody ever admitted to knowing anything about Smiths disappearance. He told her he would be back shortly. Third parties use cookies for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalised ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. 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. 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. 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. There was also an envelope which may have included a suicide note. A passenger aboard Brilliance of the Seas claimed that he heard men arguing in the Smiths room. Fariba Amani was enjoying a cruise with her boyfriend, Ramiz Golshani, when she mysteriously vanished from the Bahamas Celebration cruise. Afterward, he changed clothes and went up to a deck, smoked a cigar and had more beer with another couple. Her family hasnt received any answers as to why or how she went missing while aboard the cruise ship. He was the only one on that ship that genuinely cared, who raised an alarm, and who tried to find her. He killed her and tossed her overboard. ". Crystal then decided to head in for the night, but Caldwell chose to stay in the casino for a while. 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. Clues to her disappearance are detailed in a diary discovered in her cabin. 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. ever wonder why cruise ships are not registered in the united states? Another guest on the cruise, a volunteer fireman, heard the boyfriend's screams and started CPR, and instructed him to call 911.". When the cruise ship docked the next morning, he was not in his room or anywhere else on the ship. "They're suffering now," McGill was heard saying as he gestured to his family. He drank heavily in Cabo that day before re-boarding the ship for the trip home. I think they are suffering and need to hear from me.". 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. However, he only did this because he was ordered to do so by the coast guard. In fact, the police only learned of her disappearance when her father filed a missing persons report days later. 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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,. A Topeka, Kansas, man was arrested this week for allegedly killing his girlfriend on a cruise ship in January, prosecutors said. She was last seen on CCTV footage in the crews lounge talking on an internal phone. Both had no history of violence or marital discord, according to court papers. 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. But when shes found brutally murdered in a lower class cabin, questions revolve around who could have committed such a crime against her. Robert McGill was not in the room when the body was found, but was taken into custody by ship security later on, authorities said. The judge agreed. 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. He disappeared after reportedly either jumping or falling from a cruise ship. Youre not the only one who has that theory, Alexgood call. That was the last known sighting of Merrian alive. By this point, she had been missing for twenty-six days. The couple were aboard Carnival Cruise Lines' [] After the ship docked, her possessions were packed away. 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, featuring interviews with family, friends, investigators and experts.Stars: John Barnard, J.H. July 20, 2009 / 11:30 AM Shirley McGill was beaten and strangled to death on the bathroom floor of a cruise ship cabin at the hands of her husband. ", Carnival issued a statement saying, "The situation was handled appropriately and reported to all applicable law enforcement authorities.". Because you dont have that. January 19, 2018. 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. One thing many tourists dont realize is that American cruise ships sail under foreign flags, which allows them to circumvent US lawsand taxes. Liability. But her family said she would have stayed away from there. She easily could have been pushedor have jumpedfrom this deck. She told him she planned to go upstairs later, but did not want to visit the dining room. That said, this case really disturbed me, due to the cover up by the cruise line (one I happen to sail on). Authorities believe that he jumped into the water on purpose. The county closed it in June because of dwindling attendance. Carver went on to win his lawsuit, but it was a hollow victory. He has never been named or located, though many believe he found work on a different ship. He eventually fell asleep. ", 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.". Theres just not one industry to blame in that case. The authorities werent notified that she was missing. As 48 Hours Mystery correspondent Bill Lagattuta reports, Ashley Barnett's family is desperate for. A surprise cruise holiday for a husband and wife from Olympia, Washington ends up with one of them going overboard. Crime A farmer and his wife take a cruise celebrating their hard work and good fortune in life. The couple were aboard Carnival Cruise Lines [], Kristy Manzanares, 39, a real estate agent from St. George, Utah was sailing aboard Princess Cruises cruise ship Emerald Princess in Alaska on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. 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. It worked. Yes, its safe to assume those were not her remains, as its never been confirmed. He drank. Life is mystery, McGill reportedly said. But when the weather report comes in showing no wind, a murder investigation begins. People who are determined and serious about committing suicide are good at hiding sadness. asked the couple who had just spent the day with them in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, after noticing blood on his hand. Me too, Birgit. 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.
Gilbert Artemus (Artie) Darrell