Woman found dead on cruise as murder investigation underway, officials confirm
An FBI investigation into a ‘suspected homicide’ has been launched after a woman was found dead on a cruise ship.
The body was found on board an MSC Seascape cruise ship that docked in Galveston on Monday (9 November), the FBI Houston field office said.
An autopsy is expected to be performed on Tuesday, the Galveston County medical examiner said.
A suspect is in custody in connection with the death, the FBI said in an update on Monday. Federal investigators have not said what the man is charged with however he was booked into the Galveston County Jail.
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The name of the victim is being withheld until the family have been notified.
The FBI said in a statement that it is coordinating an investigation with the U.S. Coast Guard, Port of Galveston Police Department, Customs and Border Protection and the cruise line.
An MSC Cruises spokesperson said they are ‘cooperating fully with the investigation and providing support to those impacted.’
In a statement shared with ABC News, they said: “On reporting a guest incident aboard our ship, we were instructed by the authorities to return to the Port of Galveston.
“We are cooperating fully with the investigation and providing support to those impacted. The ship has left the port and resumed its planned itinerary.”
“As this is an active investigation, we cannot provide more details," the MSC Cruises spokesperson said. "Our thoughts are with the guest’s family and friends at this difficult time."
The ship has since resumed its planned itinerary and left the port, according to the cruise line.
No further details have been released by the FBI as the investigation is ongoing.
Tyla has contacted MSC Cruises for further comment.
According to reports by ABC 13, passengers were told that the ship would return to the port because of a ‘medical situation’.
“We heard an announcement and noticed that the cruise ship stopped,” passenger Lynn Stack said. “Well, I looked out my winder and we were back at Galveston at the port. And so, whenever I was talking to people not he ship, they said it was a ‘medical emergency’.”
She later said, “Yeah, it was a big surprise. I didn’t know what to think at first, if the vacation was over or if we were going to go ahead and continue.”
Tyla has approached the Galveston County Sheriff's Office for comment.
Topics: News
Greg Harris
