Posted on 07/27/2005 11:19:53 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
STAMFORD, Conn. — The night a newlywed vanished from his honeymoon cruise, the sounds of a loud party were coming from his stateroom, followed by male voices arguing on the balcony and then a "horrific thud," a fellow passenger says.
The ship was in the Mediterranean Sea when Connecticut resident George Smith IV disappeared more than three weeks ago.
No one has been charged, but Connecticut's top federal prosecutor said Tuesday that the 26-year-old's disappearance is being aggressively investigated and reports of blood on the ship raise concerns. The comments are the first by a U.S. prosecutor on the case and the strongest indication yet that officials suspect foul play.
"We think the circumstances are unique enough and suspicious enough that a thorough investigation is warranted," U.S. Attorney Kevin O'Connor told The Associated Press.
O'Connor said investigators were still interviewing passengers and staff from the ship, and he declined to discuss details of the investigation.
Turkish prosecutor told the AP last week that Smith's new wife, Jennifer Hagel, was not suspected in her husband's disappearance.
The couple had been drinking and gambling at the ship's casino that night, the prosecutor said. The next morning, he said, Hagel woke up and went to the gym. Smith was reported missing after cleaners found blood in their cabin. There was also blood on the balcony and a hand print on the side of the ship, the prosecutor said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Clete Hyman, a passenger in a neighboring stateroom, described what he heard during the cruise in an interview Monday night on MSNBC's "Scarborough Country."
The night Smith disappeared, Hyman said he heard what sounded like a loud party in Smith's room, then "some very loud arguing out on the balcony."
He said he heard several male voices and then noises in the cabin that sounded like furniture being moved. Then, he said, he heard a "horrific thud."
O'Connor wouldn't comment Tuesday on Hyman's account.
Smith's and Hagel's families, who live in Connecticut, have not publicly commented and did not return phone messages.
Turkish authorities handled the case after the disappearance was reported July 5 when the ship docked at Kusadasi, a resort area in the Aegean region of Turkey. U.S. officials were given the case last week.
I registered for this board but can't find the link to this subject. Can you direct me to the personal accounts?
Right after the break, a man who was on the ship--the veteran police officer referenced earlier in this thread.
Funny...I went back to the link and it got me right there.
Security individuals who were hosing down the deck to get rid of the blood and the canopy. "Totally inappropriate". Scene not secured.
No kidding.
Cleaned up the crime scene at 7 in the morning--disembarkment occurred at 8.
I'll damage tourism - I just got back from gambling in AC and spent five plus hours waiting for the ticket-in/ticket-out computer to give me $8, $2, AND $71.
Apparently, this happens alot. My vacation is their only job, and I pay dearly to make it memorable.
I am NOT a happy person! I will NOT be going back.
Where is AC?
You would think this cruise ship was run by Aruban's!
While there....check out the photo link to post 206. There is no way that body could have rolled off into the ocean. I really am shocked that no one saw anything that night!
Atlantic City is my guess....
Pesky bill collectors. Probably not the friendliest bunch.
Yeah, right.
She was conveniently absent when the deed was done.
Wonder if the ship employee split the cash with her.
If the victim were the wife and the husband was guilty of this behavior, it would be front-page news.
How old is Jennifer?
Tropicana.
She is 25. He was 26.
She must party a great deal.
I put her at 31, 32 tops.
LOL
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