"They were childhood sweethearts.". A professors assistant goes missing at sea near the end of a long voyage. Did she decide to skip out on her duties or did a terrible fate await her on-shore? 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. "I saw Bob a couple days before they left. They had been high school sweethearts who reunited through the Internet and married in 2003. Tucker's obituary had described Newman, 53, as her "partner and longtime love," The Kansas City Star reported. Your email address will not be published. Its just my theory. 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.. They are not thinking of the the pain and devastation they are going to leave behind. Both had no history of violence or marital discord, according to court papers. Stinnett noted in the court papers that Robert McGill's knuckles "appeared as if he had been in a fight.". 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. I havent read any comments so maybe others already brought up this theory. This is a joke. Thats why, not knowing the details of her murder, it just seems inconceivable. What a frustrating story. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased and her family. It wasn't immediately clear to what McGill was referring. While on a family cruise to the Caribbean, Amy Lynn Bradley mysteriously vanished from the Royal Caribbean International Cruise Lines Rhapsody of the Seas. The couple had been high school sweethearts and then broke up. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Early that morning, Bradley went missing. Robert McGill sat on deck atop the Carnival cruise ship Elation, smoking a cigar and drinking out of a bucket of beers. Its so easy to claim every disappearance on a cruise ship is suicidetoo easy. He was told the ships surveillance cameras automatically erase any footage after only three days. She embarked upon a seven-day cruise from Seattle, Washington to Alaska. Cruise Ship Killers | Season 1 | Episode 1 | Ashley | John Barnard | J.H. 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. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. If you agree, well also use cookies to complement your shopping experience across the Amazon stores as described in our Cookie Notice. 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. After hanging up the phone, she walked away, never to be seen again.[3]. The couple was on a five-day cruise to Mexico, and it was the husband's 55th birthday. Carverhired Massachusetts and Florida lawyers to dig in the case, which resulted in two cruise-line employees giving telephone depositions in January 2005. "The ships medical team responded immediately, but, unfortunately, she passed away.". 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. According to authorities, he was last seen at the ships bar drinking cocktails. They truly are the wild west. 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. Thanks so much, Cat. When he returned to their cabin, Fariba was not there. Cruise Ship Killers (2020- ) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Series Directed by Series Writing Credits Series Cast Series Produced by Series Music by Series Cinematography by Series Film Editing by Series Casting By Series Set Decoration by Series Makeup Department Series Production Management So he killed her. Through investigating her financial records, the police discovered credit-card charges for the round trip to Seattle and the Alaskan cruise. But the end of the late-in-life romance between Robert and Shirley McGill turned out to be something from a horror film. So she didnt bring a lot of clothes with her. No one collected evidence. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. But somebody outside that company knows something. McGill told a Carnival investigator he had argued with his wife and punched her once in the stomach. I really dont have the words to make anyone feel better, said McGill. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. I wonder if shed planned to buy some in one of the ports. Frantic, she contacted Kendall Carver, Merrians dad, who reported his daughter missing to the Cambridge, Massachusetts police when he also couldnt reach her. 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. My overall impression is that more than one person is covering up, for reasons of their own. Ramiz alerted the crew about her disappearance shortly after arriving at port. When she mentioned the same wish the following night, he suggested ordering room service, and then brought her two sandwiches at her request. 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. No, she didn't. 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. The 63-year-old man disappeared while on a holiday cruise in Egypt. Another passenger heard furniture being moved around inside the room, and Jennifer was later found passed out in a hallway.[2]. Her family hasnt received any answers as to why or how she went missing while aboard the cruise ship. August 18, 2022. Sorry for the late response. i believe this is one of the reasons why. Son Noel Salazar said that whatever McGill had accomplished it could not outweigh the killing, which has devastated the family. His body was never found. Ashley. display: none; 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. Youre not the only one who has that theory, Alexgood call. Smith vanished after a long night of drinking and gambling at the ships casino. She was wearing mens clothing and seemed visibly distressed. 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.). 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 believe he was murdered. 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. Everyone has dark moments in their lives, and its a shame they can be used against us if we go missing. 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. The luggage contained gifts that he had purchased for his wife and children. The captain of the ship waited about three hours before finally turning around and dropping rescue boats to search for Mizener. In December 2004, 37-year-old Annette Mizener embarked on a nine-day cruise with her parents and daughter. 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 think they are suffering and need to hear from me.". SIGN UP FOR SNEAK PEEKS OF MY NEXT BOOK + NEWSLETTER-ONLY UPDATES. Alex Murdaugh found guilty of murders of wife and son You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie Preferences, as described in the Cookie Notice. A Topeka, Kansas, man was arrested this week for allegedly killing his girlfriend on a cruise ship in January, prosecutors said. Is it on TV yet? The official cause of death was listed as toxic effects of methadone, but Barnett's family insists she never did drugs. But their luck takes a turn at the apex of their journey, with many wondering what happened aboard the ship. A savvy poker player cleans up at the tables once at sea. I think he lured her to a trap pretending like he was happy about the pregnancy. I cant believe cruise ship employees would cover stories like these up. A honeymoon cruise goes awry when the bride is allegedly blown off a balcony in the middle of the night. Her family has hired its own investigator, and hopes for a meeting with officials from Carnival. When Carver contacted Royal Caribbean to confirm his daughter had been on the ship, it took them three days to get back to him. Do you know anything about the claims by Canadian authorities that they thought the found Merrians bones? A honeymoon cruise goes awry when the bride is allegedly blown off a balcony in the middle of the night. 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. Its not good publicity and results in very costly lawsuits. In fact, the police only learned of her disappearance when her father filed a missing persons report days later. She ordered 2 sandwiches and to me its kinda strange. Others say that she jumped or fell from the deck. Halfords suitcases were found sitting outside his cabins door, which is required for guests on the last night of the cruise. Crystal then decided to head in for the night, but Caldwell chose to stay in the casino for a while. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. When she failed to report for her shift, crew members started looking for Coriam. She had her whole life in front of her. 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. Merrian didnt use the cruise ships currency card during the two days she was on board. 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. Ramiz last saw her at the ships gift shop, and then he headed to the casino by himself. I must tell you, no one that we talked with has been very forthcoming. Sadly, well probably never know the answers. By that time, the trail had gone cold.[9]. Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Fascination was near Miami on the final night of the trip when Caldwell disappeared. In 2010, Rebecca Coriam started working for Disney Cruise Line and spent months visiting several ports in the Bahamas. 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. The coast guard began an 84-hour search that spanned 25,900 square kilometers (10,000 mi2), but they were unable to find Fariba. What a tragic story. A Carnival 'Elation' cruise ship in Nassau, Bahamas appears in this undated stock photo. 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. Security officers found a privacy please sign on the locked doorknob. "They're suffering now," McGill was heard saying as he gestured to his family. Thats terrible that the cruise line basically covered it up. RIP, Kendall Carver. i too believe she was murdered. 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. "Bob and Shirley loved each other very much. Two years later, he married Shirley McGill in Las Vegas. ever wonder why cruise ships are not registered in the united states? He did report that it was a short walk from Merrians room to an observation deck 100 feet above the waterline. During at least one of his visits, she was wearing a nightshirt and underwear. . Will we ever know the truth? And if she committed suicide, why did the cruise ship staff act so suspiciously and try their best to cover it up? More questions than answers from my end as well! "He's a great friend, he's great with kids, he's a great dad, he's a great husband," White said. No, shes dead. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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. He was initially charged with first-degree murder. / CBS News. Fascinating story. Her dad returned to the balcony at 6:00 AM to check on Amy, but she was no longer there. The bartender said that Caldwell had appeared to be very drunk, but the barkeep did not help his customer back to his room. When the cruise ship docked the next morning, he was not in his room or anywhere else on the ship. But when shes found brutally murdered in a lower class cabin, questions revolve around who could have committed such a crime against her. Shes dead, said McGill, then 55, according to court papers. Merrian booked passage on the cruise only two days before it sailed, and brought two handbags, but no suitcases, on board. }, First published on July 20, 2009 / 11:30 AM. As 48 Hours Mystery correspondent Bill Lagattuta reports, Ashley Barnett's family is desperate for answers. He told her he would be back shortly. Her steward, Domingo Monteiro, found her to be personable, relaxed, and looking forward to the cruise. Then during the interview, he telephoned one of his two grown sons. Their son, Michael Pham, testified before Congress to urge tougher regulation of safety practices on cruise lines. She never got off the boat via record. She wouldn't stay in the room. The cruise ship was off the coast of Canada when the incident occurred. 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. ", Carnival issued a statement saying, "The situation was handled appropriately and reported to all applicable law enforcement authorities.". Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Why wasnt the FBI or other authorities given the opportunity to speak to him? Others believe that he accidentally fell into the water after drinking too much. 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Forge said the brutal death of Shirley McGill overshadowed her husbands career. He killed her and tossed her overboard. Im wondering, though: How does anyone know how many clothes Merrian brought on board? My parents went on a cruise from Seattle to Alaska. I honestly think someone killed her; I dont believe it was suicide. 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. Jennifer claimed that she did not remember much from the previous night, and nobody ever admitted to knowing anything about Smiths disappearance. 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. After finding out more about these cruise ships, I dont think Ill follow their example. ", 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.". #inline-recirc-item--id-d44635f2-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Well seems to me she was having an affair with an unnamed cruise member. ". 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. ), but why would someone kill her? Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. I wake up every morning praying that no other mother ever has to live this nightmare. He was excited. The same thing happened with Elisa Lam. He just always said to me, he said, theres more to this story than has been reported.. 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. I wish I could have spoken to him before he passed away. On the face of it, suicide does seem to be a likely option, but with the lack of evidence we will probably never know. When they asked about his wife, he told them he had killed her, according to court records. They eventually called off the search, and Caldwell was presumed to be dead. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. She threw a few things into a bag, intending to buy new things in port. Again. And inside was Shirley McGills body in a pool of blood on the bathroom floor, with blood splattered around the cabin. Not to mention the tax breaks they get! He disappeared after reportedly either jumping or falling from a cruise ship. The supervisor said, Just forget it, and do your job. The attendant did as she was told, although nobody ever used the room. If the manilla envelope contained a suicide note, why didnt the cruise line release it, since it would have proven their theory? Mizeners beaded purse was found with beads missing near a smoking deck. 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. "Are they ashamed of something?" He noticed she only had two handbags (purses), one dress, and one pair of sandals. Did the pressure of the kitchen make her take her own life or did foul play occur? "And I said, 'No, she didn't. 2. 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. A former crew member contacted Carver and told him that Merrian had been having a relationship with another, unidentified crew member. 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. Her family believes foul play was involved, but her case remains unsolved.[8]. The 33-year-old was aboard an AIDA Cruises ship for a holiday from Hamburg to New York when he went missing. Merrian Carvers disappearance from a cruise ship around Alaska in 2004 is one of the more absurd stories. A successful businessman takes a luxury cruise with two of his former classmates. Featuring interviews with family, friends, investigators and experts. They had pleaded with Gonzalez to impose the maximum sentence. 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. Sadly, he passed away in December 2019 without ever finding out what became of Merrian. Third parties use cookies for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalised ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. We also use these cookies to understand how customers use our services (for example, by measuring site visits) so we can make improvements. Ashley Episode 1 - 44 mins SAN DIEGO (CBS/ AP) They were former high school sweethearts who found each other decades later and renewed their love. When she showed up he told her where to meet her or he had done something to keep her quiet. He was the only one on that ship that genuinely cared, who raised an alarm, and who tried to find her. 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. 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. The supervisor put her belongings in his own locker, except for her clothing, which was promptly donated to charity. 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? But when the weather report comes in for the evening showing no wind, a murder investigation begins. January 19, 2018. 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. Liability. "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.