A Florida woman was discovered unresponsive in her cabin on a cruise ship headed for the Bahamas, prompting a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. The incident occurred on Monday, March 11, 2024, afternoon as the ship navigated the waters near Grand Bahama Island.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) reported a distress call at approximately 5:30 p.m. local time. Despite immediate medical assistance and attempts at resuscitation, including CPR, there were no signs of life, and the 27-year-old woman was declared dead on the ship.
In a disturbing discovery, authorities found a significant amount of suspected cocaine in the woman’s cabin. During the police investigation, a 32-year-old man, also from Florida, was taken into custody, although his relationship with the woman and the details of his arrest remain under wraps pending further inquiries.
The names of the deceased woman and the man in custody have not been disclosed to the public, with the RBPF indicating that an autopsy is required to ascertain the precise cause of death.
This incident casts a shadow over the region, occurring just after the US State Department’s travel advisories cited an increase in violent crimes within the Bahamas, including daylight murders and sexual assaults.
The tragedy comes shortly after the distressing experience of two women from Kentucky, Dongayla Dobson and Amber Shearer, who reported being drugged and sexually assaulted by employees at a resort in the Bahamas.
The pair embarked from Jacksonville, Florida, on February 1st on their inaugural vacation without their children aboard the Carnival Elation, which can accommodate 2,000 passengers.
Dobson told Dailymail.com, “We opted to spend the day at the beach. Seeing other cruise passengers there didn’t raise any alarms for us.”
Upon their arrival, they were greeted by two men, presumed to be part of the resort’s hospitality staff, who offered them complimentary drinks.” They offered us a buy one, get one free deal on drinks. We thought, why not? We’re here to enjoy our holiday,” they reasoned. The men informed Dobson, eager to collect seashells for her children in Lancaster, about a spot to find them.
Unfortunately, the holiday for the mothers took a distressing turn. The resort’s security footage revealed that merely 15 minutes later, the women were hardly able to stand, evidently affected by cocaine, opiates, and benzodiazepines.
Dobson described being forcibly pushed down,” she said. “I came to in the bathroom of the resort, encircled by people, with a feeling of dirtiness on my legs, fully cognizant of the ordeal I had undergone.”
It was explained to them that their vomiting likely saved their lives, as the combination of drugs in their system could have been lethal.
The women revealed that toxicological screenings confirmed a mix of drugs but no alcohol in their bodies. Dobson shared that seeing these results re-traumatized her, while Shearer recounted how they were subsequently treated like addicts.
Following the presentation of a security video by resort staff, which showed the women being led away, the police detained a 40-year-old man from South Bahama and a 54-year-old from Eight Mile Rock.
Although the suspects haven’t been formally identified, reports suggest one has connections to a well-known local authority figure who is allegedly exerting his influence to secure his sibling’s release.
Legal representatives for the women argued that Carnival owes a duty of care to its patrons to alert them about possible hazardous travel conditions.
In a region known for its beauty and allure, the recent incidents have cast a shadow, urging potential travelers to stay vigilant and informed.