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.
There were two witnesses on "A current Affair" last night that described the California teen. They said he was very loud on the cruise. His parents told the girls that George had given their son $150.00 at the casino and boasted about having more money in his room. His parents also said that he (their son) walked George back to the room the night in question. I believe this conversation took place before anyone realized it was foul play and not just a man overboard. It is a red flag to me!
Thanks for the ping. I rather like this thread because we're just getting current "facts" and not a lot of speculation.
... and I'm glad the FBI decided to pursue this. At first it looked like it was going to be swept under the rug.
Well, well. Sounds like she has surfaced.
"Your thought process is really intriguing. Anyone who drinks and can't remember what happened the next day(or ever) should be considered an alcoholic?. Are you for real? Have you ever heard of a blackout?"
Who ever posted the above has meatball sauce for brains. Everyone knows once a person starts experiencing alcohol induced blackouts HAS A SERIOUS chronic DRINKING PROBLEM. It's the bodies way of warning the individual to cut back on the booze.
Only been following it a little. I did see the HUGE blood smears all over the ship deck. WTH?! You know that man was thrown over board, fish bait. Poor fella.
Read my post 48 on this thread.....
There is a link to a website of people who were on the ship when this happened.
Huntress writes: "I later found out that these same young friends who the Smiths had befriended, were implicated in the alleged rape of a young woman - In not certain of her age- on the eve of the ship arriving in Naples. I do know that these young friends were part of a large family ( cousins, siblings, aunt, uncles, parents) travelling together...and that they were considered obnoxious, loud mouthed, overbearing, and allowed to roam recklessly throughout the cruise ship, they drank alot, they partied alot, and they were none to bright. As the entire family was being escorted by the FBI off the ship, the daughter was heard telling her Mom " we ought to go shopping since we will be hear alot longer now". They were removed or" Off boarded " by the FBI and local authorities, pursuant to an investigation into the rape that they allegedly instigated. Coincidently, they were the same guys at the heart of George's mysterious disappearance."
Is it me or does the large rambling obnoxious family described above sound like the Gotti boys or a scene out of the Sopranos? And what is with former Ms. "HOllywood" Huntress insider? You've read one and you've read em all. It's always about "Me Me Me, I simply must share "Me" with the world" ... blah blah blah.
Here is the latest.....
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8872754/
Investigators in the case of missing honeymooner George Smith IV broke new ground in their search for answers. According to NBC News sources, focus shifted from Smiths wife Jennifer Hagel, to three drunken young men who last saw him alive.
I seem to recall that we nailed this down at the beginning of this thread. Amazing how long it takes for the media to catch up to freerepublic.
LOL
Yes it is. And they are ugly and not very friendly. We had a great time!
I know what you mean about not being friendly. Are they still stripping on the beach?
No thank God, no nude Russians. The Sea Street Beach was too dirty with Sea Weed so we ventured over to West Dennis Beach, beautiful. My mom and I laughed every time we passed a Russian because we can just tell from the sour puss on their faces. LOL we are bad I know. I also had my head poked at by a Redsox fan. Since I had plenty of Corona lights in me I was laughing but now that I think about it a Redsox fan was poking at my head telling me how much he hates my Yanks. LOL
I'm glad you had fun!
" His parents told the girls that George had given their son $150.00 at the casino and boasted about having more money in his room. "
Am I the only person who thinks if that actually happened how weird and strange it is for a grown man(a new groom) during his vacation honeymoon to give $150.00 to another male then brag about more money to the same teenager back in his room which seemed like a way to lure the younger male back to his room! For what? Was George Smith a closet AC/DC player? Did he finally meet his fate by being too care free. did his drunken state lower his otherwise inhibitions? George sounds like those closet cases who prowl public parks at night. Remember the incident with both singer George Michaels and actor Kevin Spacey altercations in public parks. I think there's a lot more to George Smith than anyone ever knew.
SunnySide, I guess some of us are actually old fashioned enough to remember when honeymoons consisted of the bride and groom acually wanting to be alone most of the time and not entertaining teenagers in their room.
I think the part about George giving a stranger(male) $150.00 then bragging about more money in his room = lure tactic the way pedophiles or closet cases are known to do. That's a big questionable red flag! Double Ewww Ewww!
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