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.
Is it just me or has going on vacation become more hazardous.
***
Except for terrorism, no, I would say it's more that people often don't take the precautions they would take at home. They set themselves up for theft by leaving their wallets in their back pockets, getting their purses snatched by setting their purses down and then allowing themselves to be distracted away from them (or letting the purses dangle too freely and/or walking too close to the street where they can be picked off by anyone in a vehicle), and carrying (and flashing) wads of cash. They put themselves in danger by getting too chummy with strangers, getting drunk or high and letting others do whatever. They walk dark streets alone or travel into less than desirable neighborhoods (some are dangerous even in the daytime). They do a lot of things they would never dream of doing at home. Criminals know that many people when they vacation let their guard down. They just watch for the right moment and then act accordingly.
I think I heard earlier that she was asleep...had been drinking a lot and passed out.
In fact an investigator this evening said that it's altogether possible she doesn't remember anything. People who saw her report that she was extremely inebriated and stumbling around. And to think, next morning she got up and went to the spa for a massage without wondering where her husband was until housekeeping reported seeing blood in the room and on the balcony where they also discovered a handprint.
Oh. I spend so much time here that I thought I'd have seen it by now. This is the first time I've seen a thread.
I love this guy. I watch him whenever I can. LOL.
OK, Old fashioned. I am too. I get called a prude now and then but I embrace that too! Compared to today's culture, I AM A PRUDE. Glad of it.
What made me think of Poirot--he had a similar case on a yacht somewhere in the Mediterranean.
I often laugh when he's dressed in an immaculately tailored, cleaned and pressed suit, vest, cravat, etc. and it's 110 in Cairo. He doesn't sweat. Sort of the anti-Columbo.
Check out post 48.....
I will definitely check out these links in the morning. And thanks! If you see anything further, would you please ping me? I love a good real-life mystery.
WWW.courttv.com has a blog about it under the amber alerts and missing people section. I will let you know any other information I find out! Sounds like it was an memorable cruise to say the least!
I just got back from the Huntress blog and, oh my! This is Hollywood drama at the very least. Do keep me posted. I'll hop on over to courttv.com to have a look-see there. Absolutely intriguing and thanks again.
Well, it sure looks like he is screwed now!
Bare bones details here...will be interesting to see how much media attention this thing gets as the Holloway case loses its punch. I feel like that mystery is a dog chasing its tail.
Smells like something rotten in Denmark to me; I heard on FNC last night that she told police when she woke up, he just wasn't there.
WOW. That's all I can say. Is "Huntress" a FReeper?
No, not to my knowledge. I heard about her blog on the court tv website. She is being chased by the media for her story though!
That's IT Dan!!
You've blown our cover!!
I'm now 'pathing everybody else to give you a mental raspberry!
:)
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