TC

Some of you may have read a news report recently regarding a cruise ship crew member who was found dead on the island. The U.S. media is tagging the happening as "murder". While it is true that a woman was found dead, there are many details missing, which change the complextion of the story. I am currently in Cozumel. Here are additional details not reported in the U.S. media.

-The victim did not leave the ship alone. She left in the company of another crew member. It is believed that the two were romantically linked.

-The victim was discovered on a very remote beach on the island. While she did have a blow to the head before drowning, it is not clear if that blow was the result of an attack or from falling or diving into unknown waters.

-The "companion" did not report the incident to authorities, nor did she return to the ship. She was "located" in Cancun seeking medical attention for an apparent suicide attempt.

Local authorities are still investigating all the details, but there is no evidence that points to this being a crime committed by island residents on a visitor.

I post this because I love this island and have been coming here for 18 years. All the current media attention on crime in Mexico in general is hurting Cozumel -- although none of the drug crime has happened here. I would hate to see another story misconstrued to paint this lovely island and it's people as dangerous.

suze

Thank you for an informative post. I also feel bad for places in Mexico receiving a bad rap lately when *nothing* bad has happened there that would have any effect on a tourist or visitor.

Sounds similar to the "murder" of a tourist/female in Cancun awhile ago. Which actually turned out to be a murder, but her husband did it while they were on vacation.

crowdpub

Nice report TC. I would like to know what other media reports (non U.S.) this incident was reported on.

There has also been another death from the same boa(a passenger from the U.S.)I believe. A young U.S. female got off in Cozumel. The news reports are a little sketchy but report that she swallowed a piercing. She ultimately ended up in a hospital in Cancun and passed away. The newspaper reported stated she hemmoraged and that the piercing damaged internal organs.

I phoned Royal Caribbean and here is their statement:
We extend our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the female guest from the United States who passed away while hospitalized in Cancun, Mexico. She debarked Allure of the Seas on February 4 in Cozumel and did not return to the ship prior to its departure. While visiting Cozumel she was admitted to the hospital to receive medical attention.

I wonder what the cruise line's policy is regarding when a passenger does not make it back to the ship? Has anyone had any experience of being left behind for any reason or knowing anyone?

http://latinamericacurrentevents.com...wing-piercing/

Jeff_Costa_Rica

I'm not following this part of the story:

"The "companion" did not report the incident to authorities, nor did she return to the ship. She was "located" in Cancun seeking medical attention for an apparent suicide attempt."

The companion and the crew member were the same person? And the crew member didn't return to duties on the ship?

TC

Well here the story from the cruise line gets a little muddled. Two women got off the boat in Cozumel, Jeff. It is believed they were romantically linked. It is somewhat unclear whether they were both crew or one crew ( the dead girl) and one passenger. The story about the passenger in Cancun with the infected piercing surfaced at the same time as the story of a passenger in the hospital in Cancun for an attempted suicide. I had not heard that she since passed away. It is possible that they are one and the same. The cruise line never admitted they lost "two" people. They may be attempting to do damage control by making it appear the two incidents are unrelated -- then again, maybe they are.

In any case, the locals did not murder anyone, so it's safe to come on down.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Oh, I gathered that it's safe for tourists in Cozumel. I would never have second thoughts about going there.

Eerie story though!

crowdpub

Reports from Mexico press are stating two deaths - one an American - one a Polish employee of the cruise line - latest article states there was no connection between the two. Also, the name originally released as the American who died of the piercing is not the same as what is in the press now. Strange story.
http://www.yucatan.com.mx/20110208/n...-en-cancun.htm

crowdpub

A 24 year old Mexican national has confessed to the death of Monika Markewicz from Poland who worked on the Royal Caribbean cruise line. She also left as the American female did and both did not return to the ship. - it appears the cases are non related.

The man who murdered the RC Caribbean stated he has seen the victim three times, they had an argument and hit her in the head with a rock and threw her in the sea. The defendant was employed as a busboy on Cozumel. This information is taken from statements by the Attorney General for Quintana Roo where Cozumel is located.
http://latinamericacurrentevents.com...loyee-cozumel/

TC

Very interesting twist. "Gossip" has it that there may be more to the story between these seemingly unrelated people. In any case it is a big drama mainly because something of this magnitude is such a rarity on the island. I'm sure there will be more to report. In the meantime, tell your daughters not to go off to secluded beaches with strangers --- anywhere.

AJ11

By the way, there is proof that the bat tender did not do it but Royal Caribbean "kindly" asked the Mexican government to blame a local otherwise they would have to face the fact that a murderer is on the Allure and its not safe to sail on it. Unfortunately money buys everything and this bartender was the scape goat!

TC

I would not want to be doing damage control PR for RC. The same ship was raided in St. Thomas for drugs that week. Other RC ships have been busted in dock in Baltimore for major drug smuggling by crew members. Oddly, USA Today reported the St Thomas drug bust yesterday, but today the story seems to have disappeared -- a search turns up only RC adverts!

MBSD

Well, I have known Nelson for 5 years. I can't imagine he killed anyone. Further, one of my very good childhood friends was on the island and at the bar where he works until 5:00 p.m. or so on the date that the woman went missing and was on the island the next day as well, went to the bar, saw Nelson and reports that he did not notice anything suspicious about his behavior. My friend has a time stamped photo taken of Nelson and the other employees at 4:22 p.m. the date the lady went missing. I came to CZM on the 19th and heard about it right away and couldn't believe it. It is such a shame. I feel terrible about the poor woman who died, and her family. I am hopeful that it was not a homicide, but if it was, I don't think it was Nelson. He's a sweet young man, speaks very little English and rides a bicycle. If it was him, well, I terribly misjudged him. I wonder if we will ever know the entire truth.

colokid

From all the reports in the newspaper it appears that there is other information that exonerates Nelson. I also hope they find the truth but sometimes it takes such a long time to do so if at all that the initial information that was reported here is held as the truth regardless of what actually happened. I also don't think he had anything to do with it. Reporting these rumors before actual, factual information is available is a disservice regardless of what Crowdpub says.

TC

We are still on the island and we're hearing the same things --- that this may be a case of "the big money" needing a scapegoat and poor Nelson is taking the fall. The reason I started this post is to try to get a more balanced version than what U.S. Newspapers were reporting. So many questions remain. For one, why didn't RC report the missing passenger -- the one who committed suicide in Cancun? If she got off the ship with the victim like we've heard, then why not state this?

Keep posting any FACTS you see.

MBSD

TC: I think you are right. The worst part is how do we help without being in BIG trouble?!? I have posted the best information here that I have:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...+allure&page=3

I hope that if the link does not post that you will all look at my post it is under "MBSD" as I am from South Dakota. I hope that Nelson is free before we all have to identify ourselves and subject ourselves to certain imprisonment!

colokid

I have heard recent instances of federal police questioning people for identification. Once in awhile these things pop up and, since we live in a foreign country, we do what is asked. Usually I take a copy of my passport with me if traveling about for that reason. It's always good to have identification with you. Nelson is another story altogether. I doubt there is anything we can do since the story has virtually dropped off the radar both in the international scene and in the local paper Por Esto which I read daily. Haven't seen mention of him in a week or so. There were demonstrations supporting him in Coz but he could be in for a very long imprisonment before the judicial system addresses it at all.