Thursday, July 16, 2009

Woman on Carnival cruise ship dead, allegedly killed by husband in cabin


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CarnivalElation(2:11 PM ET) -- A man sailing on a Carnival cruise ship this week has been taken into custody for allegedly killing his wife during an argument in their cabin.

In a statement, Carnival says the death occurred Tuesday evening as the ship, the 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation, was on the last leg of a Baja Mexico cruise.

"A domestic dispute occurred between a husband and wife in their cabin, resulting in the wife’s death," the Carnival statement says. "The husband was taken into custody aboard the vessel and all appropriate authorities, including the FBI and U.S. Coast Guard, were notified."

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The Associated Press, citing the FBI, says the man was arrested for the alleged killing.

Carnival says FBI agents boarded the vessel early this morning to initiate an investigation. The line didn't say how the woman died.

The 70,000-ton Carnival Elation is based in San Diego and had departed on Saturday on a five-day cruise to Cabo San Lucas. The ship returned to San Diego this morning.

"The cruise line is providing its full cooperation and support," the line says in the statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim’s family."

UPDATE, 2:58 PM ET: San Diego's 6 News is reporting that FBI agents boarded the Carnival Elation late Wednesday while it was still at sea to begin their investigation. Passengers tell the news outlet they saw a guard stationed outside the room for the rest of the cruise.

San Diego's 6 News reports the woman who died was 55 years old.

UPDATE, 3:29 PM ET: San Diego's 10News.com, citing the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office, has identified the dead woman as Shirley McGill, 55, of Winnetka, Calif.

San Diego's 10News.com also reports the FBI sent 20 agents to the ship while it still was at sea.

UPDATE, 4:01 PM ET: A Carnival spokesperson tells USA TODAY the Carnival Elation is expected to set sail as scheduled this evening from San Diego on its next voyage to Mexico. No word yet on whether FBI agents will remain on board. The ship's scheduled departure time is 5:30 PM PT.

UPDATE, 5:50 PM ET: The Associated Press now is reporting that the husband of the dead woman has been detained by the FBI as a suspect but not formally arrested. The Associated Press earlier had reported that the man had been arrested. The Associated Press quotes the head of the FBI's San Diego office, Keith Slotter, as saying about 20 agents who met the ship at sea Wednesday spent the night interviewing the suspect and 30 to 40 potential witnesses aboard the ship.


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