A former crew member contacted Carver and told him that Merrian had been having a relationship with another, unidentified crew member. 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Do you know anything about the claims by Canadian authorities that they thought the found Merrians bones? 1. Cruise Ship Murders A person that is killed by someone, the involvement of a perpetrator is required and where suicide is excluded. 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. "And I said, 'No, she didn't. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { The ship had left Jacksonville, Florida, the day before. The attorney who handled the case did not immediately return a call seeking comment. ", Jamie, crying, told reporters: "I wake up every morning wishing I could hold her just one more time. Then during the interview, he telephoned one of his two grown sons. Everyone has dark moments in their lives, and its a shame they can be used against us if we go missing. She had one pair of shoes and one dress, both of which were left in her room when she vanished. But when the weather report comes in for the evening showing no wind, a murder investigation begins. In court documents, his lawyers said that he had at least 20 drinks, including beer, hard liquor and mescal. So he killed her. Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Fascination was near Miami on the final night of the trip when Caldwell disappeared. He was told the ships surveillance cameras automatically erase any footage after only three days. But he never returned to their cabin.[6]. In fact, the police only learned of her disappearance when her father filed a missing persons report days later. 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. Shirley McGills children sounded a different note. The couple had been high school sweethearts and then broke up. 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. 2023 J.H. But not everyone returns home from these trips. He has never been named or located, though many believe he found work on a different ship. By that time, the trail had gone cold.[9]. It worked. They might have erased the surveillance tapes when they saw the crime. We also use these cookies to understand how customers use our services (for example, by measuring site visits) so we can make improvements. She was last seen on CCTV footage in the crews lounge talking on an internal phone. The same thing happened with Elisa Lam. 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. The latest involves the sudden death of an aspiring actress during a Carnival cruise in October. Again. August 18, 2022. Thats why, not knowing the details of her murder, it just seems inconceivable. 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). Authorities believe that Halford went missing sometime between 11:45 PM on April 6 and 7:30 AM on April 7. 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. The captain of the ship waited about three hours before finally turning around and dropping rescue boats to search for Mizener. Eric Newman appears in this 2013 mugshot provided by the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Please enter valid email address to continue. horror and suspense author J.H. 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. When she showed up he told her where to meet her or he had done something to keep her quiet. display: block; 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. Maybe he was worried about losing his job so he covered up the suicide and took the suicide letter and money. 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. ", When she died, Barnett was working for composer John Debny, who remarked to Lagattuta: "No one is forthcoming. Its horrible that cruise lines have so much power to do whatever they please and cover up anything that is questionable. Later that night, he pummeled his wife inside the cabin, then strangled her. The official cause of death was listed as toxic effects of methadone, but Barnett's family insists she never did drugs. Merrian didnt use the cruise ships currency card during the two days she was on board. A sous chef aboard a cruise ship leaves her shift unexpectedly and is never seen again. A Topeka, Kansas, man was arrested this week for allegedly killing his girlfriend on a cruise ship in January, prosecutors said. Voters will soon get a say, California Republicans give a boost to Florida Gov. There was also an envelope which may have included a suicide note. Fascinating story. On the second day of the cruise, a cabin attendant noticed that the bed had not been used and reported it to the boss. To celebrate, she booked the cruise with her boyfriend. When they asked about his wife, he told them he had killed her, according to court records. They had been high school sweethearts who reunited through the Internet and married in 2003. Directors John Barnard Ian Bawa Writers Chris Charney (story editor) Carolyn Gray Stars John Barnard Sadly, he passed away in December 2019 without ever finding out what became of Merrian. Thank you to Jamie Barnett, President of the ICV, for his assistance and support with this post. 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. i too believe she was murdered. He did report that it was a short walk from Merrians room to an observation deck 100 feet above the waterline. In 2005, Hue Pham, 71, and Hue Tran, 67, took a seven-night Mothers Day cruise in the Caribbean with their daughter and granddaughter. What a frustrating story. When Carver contacted Royal Caribbean to confirm his daughter had been on the ship, it took them three days to get back to him. She is survived by a son, her obituary said, according to the newspaper. But when the weather report comes in for the evening showing no wind, a murder investigation begins.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. 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. Whatever decency Mr. McGill had, he left on the floor of that bathroom next to Shirleys beaten, bleeding and broken body, Forge said. 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. Well seems to me she was having an affair with an unnamed cruise member. Carver went on to win his lawsuit, but it was a hollow victory. How did she disappear? He just always said to me, he said, theres more to this story than has been reported.. When she failed to report for her shift, crew members started looking for Coriam. No one collected evidence. Because you dont have that. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. So she didnt bring a lot of clothes with her. A honeymoon cruise goes awry when the bride is allegedly blown off a balcony in the middle of the night. "I saw Bob a couple days before they left. Im always skeptical of pulling the suicide card but it seems quite obvious here. I honestly think someone killed her; I dont believe it was suicide. The entire set-up was a bit weird (why did she not have a suitcase?). Carvers living hell was about to begin. 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. Happens every single day. Here are prices in 10 communities. Moncrieff, Damian Turner #CruiseShipKillers #CrimeTV #BreakthroughEntertainment What do you think happened to Merrian? Frantic, she contacted Kendall Carver, Merrians dad, who reported his daughter missing to the Cambridge, Massachusetts police when he also couldnt reach her. Her poor dad. Several people have vanished aboard cruise liners, leaving their friends and families heartbroken and confused. Fariba Amani was enjoying a cruise with her boyfriend, Ramiz Golshani, when she mysteriously vanished from the Bahamas Celebration cruise. An average of ten Americans disappear from cruise ships every year. In December 2004, 37-year-old Annette Mizener embarked on a nine-day cruise with her parents and daughter. 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. When a crime is committed on a cruise ship, it rarely is investigated properly or promptly reported. 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. 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. In July 2005, George Allen Smith IV and his wife, Jennifer, were celebrating their two-week-long honeymoon on a cruise from Greece to Turkey when he mysteriously disappeared. 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. Why? Liability. Good questions. She threw a few things into a bag, intending to buy new things in port. He was excited. The search for his body was called off after four days.[4]. As 48 Hours Mystery correspondent Bill Lagattuta reports, Ashley Barnett's family is desperate for answers. Son Noel Salazar said that whatever McGill had accomplished it could not outweigh the killing, which has devastated the family. McGill was going to join her when he retired. A German college student working aboard on a cruise ship goes missing at an Alaskan port. I wish I could have spoken to him before he passed away. This is very cruel.' More questions than answers from my end as well! We use cookies and similar tools that are necessary to enable you to make purchases, to enhance your shopping experiences and to provide our services, as detailed in our Cookie Notice. I wonder if shed planned to buy some in one of the ports. "Are they ashamed of something?" He has been a guest speaker on numerous national radio and television stations and is a five time published author. After they were unsuccessful, the United States Coast Guard and the Mexican Navy were alerted and joined the search. Halfords suitcases were found sitting outside his cabins door, which is required for guests on the last night of the cruise. They had sailed on the Elation to celebrate their pending retirement. The amount of people who go missing or who are murdered on cruise lines is disproportionate. Frustrated, Carverhired one of the largest private investigation firms in the country, but this resulted in more questions than answers. There are simply too many cooks stirring this particular pot of murky broth. Yes, its safe to assume those were not her remains, as its never been confirmed. He was initially charged with first-degree murder. July 20, 2009 / 11:30 AM In 2015, the FBI closed their investigation into the disappearance of Smith. The whereabouts of Fariba remain unknown, but her family suspects that Ramiz may have had something to do with her disappearance. A successful businessman takes a luxury cruise with two of his former classmates. 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. There should have still been footage from the time his daughter disappeared when he first contacted them. 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. ever wonder why cruise ships are not registered in the united states? The cruise ship was off the coast of Canada when the incident occurred. Carver was never seen again. She spent time by herself and didnt want to go to the dinner. 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. She was last seen when the ship was around 48 kilometers (30 mi) off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico. Her father reported her missing to the authorities on the cruise line, and the ship docked at Curacao, Antilles.[1]. Did someone aboard see her before she disappeared? He made his initial court appearance on Thursday, prosecutors said, and his detention hearing is set for Sept. 12. What a fascinating, yet scary, and helpless story! 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. Did the pressure of the kitchen make her take her own life or did foul play occur? In bankruptcy papers, McGill listed assets of $50,000 to $100,000 and debts of $100,000 to $500,000. 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. A generous tip and a manilla envelope with unknown contents had been left behind, along with all of her belongings, including her only shoes. 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. Merrian booked passage on the cruise only two days before it sailed, and brought two handbags, but no suitcases, on board. (Names and other identifying details were changed on the show for legal reasons.). Wheres your wife, Shirley? The 47-year-old mother of two from Canada disappeared on February 29, 2012, somewhere between the Bahamas and Florida. Was she OK? SAN DIEGO (CBS/ AP) They were former high school sweethearts who found each other decades later and renewed their love. 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. Smith vanished after a long night of drinking and gambling at the ships casino. There was no record of her leaving the ship. MoncrieffWebsite By Elise Epp Design and Amanda Weber. ), but why would someone kill her? They truly are the wild west. They either gambled and won quite a bit of money, or they said they were going to the bathroom, and WERE NEVER SEEN AGAIN. "The ships medical team responded immediately, but, unfortunately, she passed away.". A passenger stated that a nearby camera for that deck was covered, so there was no footage of her. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 16+. Was it revenge, jealousy or a murderous impulse at sea? ", Carnival issued a statement saying, "The situation was handled appropriately and reported to all applicable law enforcement authorities.". Given the last minute cruise reservation, one outfit, the divorce and losing custody of her daughter, I believe Merriam committed suicide. Moncrieff. This video is currently unavailable. I believe the key to this story is her lack of luggage, clothes etc Suicide is pretty likely. Just wanted to comment, I see so many people disparaging cruise lines here, but really how many crimes happen every day to people on land- based vacations? McGill's family, including two adult sons, declined to comment after the hearing, as did Assistant U.S. Attorney Joanna Curtis. On the final day of the trip, she disappeared from Carnivals ship The Pride. However, he only did this because he was ordered to do so by the coast guard. The Royal Caribbeandid contact the FBI, but not until Merrian had been missing for five weeks. A honeymoon cruise goes awry when the bride is allegedly blown off a balcony in the middle of the night. "She said, 'I'm terribly, terribly sorry to tell you your daughter passed away today,' " Jamie Barnett told Lagattuta. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. i have been on numerous cruises, but will probably never step on board one again. Yep. Moncrieff, Damian Turner #CruiseShipKillers #CrimeTV #BreakthroughEntertainment 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. i read a lot of true crime, watch documentaries, id tv, forensic files.the criminal mind fascinates me. During questioning, the school teacher from Los Angeles told investigators he killed his wife "in the bathroom of their cabin with his bare hands," court documents revealed Friday. I cant believe she left because she had a daughter, and unless she was drastically suicidal, no mom would do that. I must tell you, no one that we talked with has been very forthcoming. During at least one of his visits, she was wearing a nightshirt and underwear. After finding out more about these cruise ships, I dont think Ill follow their example. She had her whole life in front of her. Authorities believe that the couple committed suicide by jumping into the sea together. Her family believes foul play was involved, but her case remains unsolved.[8]. Perhaps you can help us figure out what happened to Julie Weflen. Or was it something more sinister? Thats why she never said a word to anyone about he going in a cruise. Moncrieff Breakthrough Entertainment 108K subscribers Subscribe 2.2K 222K views 1 year ago #BreakthroughEntertainment. I feel the same. "It's unconscionable that they won't give up their records and give Ashley's parents the answers they are seeking. "Bob and Shirley loved each other very much. But their luck changes drastically and the friends who are on board celebrating with them now aid in the search for the farmer who is now missing at sea. Many corporations in the vacation industry hide things from their patrons that arent even their fault in a misguided attempt to keep precious normalcy. A detention hearing in the case is set for July 23, with a preliminary hearing on July 30. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. If she walked to the observation deck to commit suicide, she did it in her underwear. Couldnt happen to nicer companies, Mark. In 2004 a 40-year-old lady named Merrian was taking a cruise to Alaska on board the Celebrity Mercury. People who are determined and serious about committing suicide are good at hiding sadness. And if she planned on committing suicide, why the round-trip ticket? Police and the FBI also failed to find any evidence or trace of her during their investigation on the ship. Your email address will not be published. After hanging up the phone, she walked away, never to be seen again.[3]. 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. 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. Pull back the curtain and see how a suspense writer puts the thrills and chills together. Crystal then decided to head in for the night, but Caldwell chose to stay in the casino for a while. If you agree, well also use cookies to complement your shopping experience across the Amazon stores as described in our Cookie Notice. I wake up every morning praying that no other mother ever has to live this nightmare. 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. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Newlyweds board a cruise ship, but things take a turn for the worse when one disappears in the middle of the night. 1996-2022, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Ill tell you all about it.. Jennifer claimed that she did not remember much from the previous night, and nobody ever admitted to knowing anything about Smiths disappearance. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. About The Author: Im just another bearded guy trying to write my way through life. There is absolutely no strong indication or proof that she committed suicide, especially since there was no record of her leaving her room. A passenger aboard Brilliance of the Seas claimed that he heard men arguing in the Smiths room. Sorry, there was a problem saving your cookie preferences. He appeared without handcuffs and wore a white jumpsuit. Alex Murdaugh found guilty of murders of wife and son 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. 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. 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. Tenoriowas traveling with [], Katherine Kemp Notable Cruise Industry Death Murder Fred Olsen Cruise Lines EmployeeKatie Kemp Murdered On Monday, August 6, 2018, at approximately 0850 hours, Katherine (Katie) Kemp, 31, from Ipswich, Suffolk was murdered by [], Tamara Loraine Tucker, 50, fromLawson, Missouri, was allegedly murdered byher longtime love, Eric Duane Newman, 53, on Friday, January 19, 2018 during a celebration for her 50th birthday. The manilla envelope and the money Merrian had left in her room disappeared with him, along with other personal belongings. 2 talking about this. And that's a shame. The investigator was allowed onto the ship, but wasnt permitted to speak to anyone, including the ships security officer. 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. 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. Genres Documentary Subtitles None Available Audio Languages English Hougardy said Shirley McGill planned to move to Oregon, where her family and her children from a previous marriage lived. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. No body was ever found. 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?). A husband and wife take a cruise to celebrate their good luck in business. To me, suicide is a silent because we dont always recognize the signs until theyve passed. He noticed she only had two handbags (purses), one dress, and one pair of sandals. Is it on TV yet? There have been many theories about her disappearance, but none have been proven to be true. Thanks, Sherry. The family says Barnett's boyfriend told them he had no idea what happened. That last evening, he and his fiancee had gone to dinner with some friends they met on the cruise. Ramiz last saw her at the ships gift shop, and then he headed to the casino by himself. / CBS News. Their marriage was the most important thing in his life," Paul White, a teacher at the school where McGill taught, told the AP. The latest involves the sudden death of an aspiring actress during a Carnival cruise in October. The bartender said that Caldwell had appeared to be very drunk, but the barkeep did not help his customer back to his room. According to authorities, he was last seen at the ships bar drinking cocktails. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. It wasn't immediately clear to what McGill was referring. He drank heavily in Cabo that day before re-boarding the ship for the trip home. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. To learn more about how and for what purposes Amazon uses personal information (such as Amazon Store order history), please visit our Privacy Notice. Friends and neighbors said they were shocked to learn of the charge. Why wouldnt the stewards supervisor have sounded an alarm when informed she was missingif he had nothing to hide? 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. The authorities werent notified that she was missing.