A 27-year-old woman from Florida was found lifeless in her cabin on a cruise ship in the Bahamas, sparking a comprehensive examination into the factors contributing to her death.
The event took place on the afternoon of Monday, March 11, 2024, while the ship was docked near Grand Bahama Island.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) received an emergency call around 5:30 p.m. local time. Despite immediate medical attention and resuscitation efforts, including CPR, the woman showed no signs of life and was pronounced dead onboard the ship.
Upon investigation, authorities discovered a substantial amount of what they suspected to be cocaine in the woman’s cabin. A 32-year-old Florida man was subsequently detained in relation to the case. However, his connection with the deceased woman and the specifics of his arrest are yet to be revealed, pending further investigation.
Neither the name of the woman who died nor the man in custody has been released to the public. The RBPF noted that an autopsy is necessary to determine the exact cause of death.
This incident comes on the heels of the US State Department’s travel advisories noting a rise in violent crimes in the Bahamas, including daylight killings and sexual assaults.
The incident follows the harrowing experience of two Kentucky women, Dongayla Dobson and Amber Shearer, who claimed to have been drugged and sexually assaulted by employees at a Bahamian resort.
On February 1st, the two women embarked from Jacksonville, Florida on their first vacation without their children onboard the Carnival Elation, a ship with a capacity of 2,000 passengers.
Dobson told Dailymail.com about their experience, “‘We just decided to spend the day on the beach. There were other people from the cruise on the beach so there weren’t red flags for us.”
Upon reaching the beach two men believed to be resort staff presented them with complimentary drinks. The men also directed Dobson, who was keen on collecting seashells for her children in Lancaster, to a spot where she could find some.
However, their vacation took a distressing turn. Security footage from the resort showed that just 15 minutes later, the women were barely able to stand, apparently under the influence of cocaine, opiates, and benzodiazepines.
Dobson shared her traumatic experience of regaining consciousness in the resort’s bathroom, surrounded by people, and feeling dirtiness on her legs, fully aware of the ordeal she had suffered.
They were later informed that their vomiting likely saved their lives, as the cocktail of drugs found in their system could have proved fatal.
According to the women, toxicology tests confirmed the presence of multiple drugs, but no alcohol, in their bodies. Seeing these results re-traumatized Dobson, while Shearer recalled how they were subsequently treated like addicts.
Following the release of a security video by the resort that showed the women being led away, police arrested a 40-year-old man from South Bahama and a 54-year-old from Eight Mile Rock.
While the suspects have not been officially identified, there are reports that one of them is related to a prominent local authority figure who is allegedly using his influence to secure his relative’s release.
The women’s legal representatives argue that Carnival Cruises has a responsibility to inform its customers about potential risks during their travels.
In a region renowned for its beauty and charm, these recent incidents have cast a dark cloud, prompting potential visitors to stay vigilant and informed.
