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.
Funny name in a story about a honeymoon. This sounds like a future C.S.I. episode.
***......"There's clearly an assumption foul play might be involved. People don't go missing every day on cruise ships."
George Smith IV of Greenwich had been on a 12-night cruise celebrating his wedding when he vanished somewhere between Greece and Turkey. He was reported missing July 5 when the ship docked at Kusadasi, a resort area on the Aegean Sea, on Turkey's west coast.
Bloodstains running from the balcony of Smith's cabin to life boats, as well as a handprint on the side of the ship, prompted a Turkish prosecutor to ask Smith's family to provide blood samples for comparison.....***
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-apcruisedisappear0727.artjul27,0,5198343.story?&track=rss
She took a bus to New Mexico.
Where was the wifey when all of this was happening in the stateroom?
Something new for Greta, Geraldo et al to stupefy us with once the Aruba case is wound up....
Another murder case being probed by LE in a foreign country since July 5? Hope they did a good job collecting evidence, and how interesting that this is just hitting the media.
Wow! I'm impressed. How did you know he was going to ask that question?
Both Greta and Geraldo have featured this case on their show.
What really ticks me about these stories is that people read or see them and then say, "I'm not going there. It's not safe."
There was a story dredged up recently in conjunction with the Holloway story about a woman who disappeared off a cruise ship when it was anchored in Aruba a couple of years ago. Right away, people started with the "I'm not going to Aruba." or "I'm not cruising" whine.
These stories just cause damage to tourism...and such damage can result in loss of jobs and tourism companies going under. The economy of Aruba or wherever else these things happen goes belly up.
His wife didn't notice the blood in the cabin when she woke up? That plus the fact her hubby wasn't in bed w/her might have given her a clue something was wrong...but maybe that's just me.
I knew you were going to say that!
People say a lot of things but if they had a chance to go on a cruise or visit Aruba, they'd most likely go.
It's fun to read wedding engagement/announcements in the paper. Very often their sir names have a funny context.
Here's one from Illinois: Oblong Man Marries Normal Woman.
"Where was the wifey when all of this was happening in the stateroom?"
Wondering the same thing.
If you ever find out, let me know.
Joe Scarborough has had excellent coverage of this case. Watch his show tonight for updates.
Of course, the cruise ship already cleaned everything up....
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