Smith disappearance still be investigated

[piercetc4]

i also feel like it was extorsion- rci cannot monitor and control the behavior of all passengers at all times- not doable!

[Mapleleafforever]

Interesting story. I feel bad for the Smith family.

[jamessemaj]

I would feel the same way, but I suspect, if it were our decision, our lawyers and PR advisors would tell us it would be foolish to drag it out and have the mess continue. And maybe if you and I were on the jury, the majority of our fellow jurors would have felt sympathy for the family, voting for a judgement against the big unsympathetic company...we might be out voted in a civil case, a worse outcome for the company:eek: Juries are known to be unpredictable.

 

At least now the family is going on TV saying they believe it was a robbery gone bad...better than blaming the company for the death.

 

I understand the risks in going to a jury trial. Remember the McDonald's hot coffee trial where plaintiff was awarded beyond reason for driving with hot coffee in her lap. That decision has been defended every which way, yet I can only laugh at the stupidity of it.

 

It's the basis of our trial system, but jury trials can't overcome common stupidity. Which brings us back to the current topic, the horrors of the Smith honeymoon and the extortion of RCI.

[Ashland]

Why didn't the law enforcement officer in the cabin next door call security when he first took notice of perhaps something going on??...Security has been called many times for far less...

[Starry Eyes]

Why didn't the law enforcement officer in the cabin next door call security when he first took notice of perhaps something going on??...Security has been called many times for far less...

 

I bet in retrospect he wishes he had, but at the time he probably thought he had an ordinary noisy neighbor, a night owl up late having fun. no worrisome screaming or obvious fight sounds were described. the young people did not spend much time in the cabin that night, so they may not have been there if security showed up.

[Canadian Tyler]

Interesting report on Dateline. Surprised RC let camera crews on board etc. But they came off scot fre.

 

I can't imagine staying in that same room and cannot believe that people come by to see it and take pics.

[illinois yukon girl]

Unless RCI was/is hiding something....I completely agree.

The only reason that I can think of why RC would cover up something would be if the Casino manager actually did leave with Jenifer. If they have a tape of him entering & leaving the Smiths room, maybe they destroyed the tapes because wouldn't RC be responsable then for sure?Wouldn't that of cost them a huge, huge amount of money?

I also would love to know if anything was missing from the safe. I wonder why Dateline never said if it was or not.

What a strange story!:confused:

[reallyitsmema]

The only reason that I can think of why RC would cover up something would be if the Casino manager actually did leave with Jenifer. If they have a tape of him entering & leaving the Smiths room, maybe they destroyed the tapes because wouldn't RC be responsable then for sure?Wouldn't that of cost them a huge, huge amount of money?

I also would love to know if anything was missing from the safe. I wonder why Dateline never said if it was or not.

What a strange story!:confused:

Why would Royal Caribbean or any corporation be responsible for the actions of an employee? We don't know that the tapes are destroyed, they just haven't been made available to the public.

[Cruising4theFirstTime]

Why would Royal Caribbean or any corporation be responsible for the actions of an employee? We don't know that the tapes are destroyed, they just haven't been made available to the public.

 

Not to mention it would be very, very stupid for RC to destroy evidence. I would guess that the FBI has the tapes, and they have just not been released to the public.

[Cat54]

Good to know! ;) I think i would have been fine staying in the room--not afraid or anything--but as I said, I would've been more annoyed by the people stopping by. Like they were suddenly going to discover the magic piece of evidence that solved it or something. :eek: I think we ended up in 9050 but I don't remember.

 

I imagine the folks who work on the ship are sick of hearing questions about it, so they make up stories about what happened to the cabin. I know I would.

 

We were never bothered by people stopping by or taking pictures. It had been a few years since the accident happened. I imagine with all of the new publicity that people will once again be checking out the location of the room. Don't think I want to stay there now:eek:

[GatorMomInNC]

I totally agree. It does not appear to be foul play. There was no money taken. That guy was big and one person, IMHO, could not have thrown that guy over, and why would they? They didn't rob him, apparently, and if they did he was in no condition to remember. They could have just waited until he passed out even.

 

Josh taking the 5th is on the advice of his attorney, I'm sure, so that if he said something different than in a previous interview with the FBI -even if his memory was just mixed up after all that time - he risked being charged with lying to a federal agent.

 

There was only a small amount of blood in the room, little on the balcony, all of it on the overhang.

 

The idea that one of the young men was left to push Smith off the balcony just doesn't make sense. One would have a tough time doing that.

 

The furniture moving sounds or whatever it was to me would suggest that Smith was up and moving around in a drunken stupor, went out on the balcony, fell off. An accident like a tree falling in the woods with nobody to hear the sound.

 

Whatever.

 

Again, my main thought is what a waste of money for RCI to pay for what appear to be the result of poor judgement and behavior these people. I'm sorry for their foolishness, but don't think RCI should pay for it.

[GalCruzer]

Just saw Nancy Grace on her show, last night, digging her heals into this...

[charmay]

I know its really awful to think.

But it has crossed my mind if anyones crocked it in a hotal room or cabin!

I can only hope they replace the mattress:eek:

I once stayed in a caravan and could have sworn it was haunted,noises all night i was hiding under the duvet freeking out.:(

I knew of two deaths on our 7 night cruise.

My friend had 7 on her 14 night cruise!

Think its best to try and not think about it.;)

[Room Service!]

I know its really awful to think.

But it has crossed my mind if anyones crocked it in a hotal room or cabin!

I can only hope they replace the mattress:eek:

I once stayed in a caravan and could have sworn it was haunted,noises all night i was hiding under the duvet freeking out.:(

I knew of two deaths on our 7 night cruise.

My friend had 7 on her 14 night cruise!

Think its best to try and not think about it.;)

 

I don't think if someone died of natural causes that the mattress would necessarily be replaced, but a murder where there's blood or other excretions I would think/hope so.

It's not uncommon for there to be deaths on cruises that draw an older crowd.

[Mark_K]

and folks wonder why RCI had a ban on carry on liquor. Doubt the truth will ever be known.

Actually, the possibility of it being a mob hit, and not at all related to bringing liquor on board, makes RCI's case for the ban less defendable not more.

[Room Service!]

If anyone is interested they are going to discuss this story shortly on 'Today' with Matt Lauer.

[BillB48]

Actually, the possibility of it being a mob hit, and not at all related to bringing liquor on board, makes RCI's case for the ban less defendable not more.

 

My understanding that RCI was slammed in the Smith civil case for not"controlling" alcohol brought on board and consumed. In this case clamping down on stuff brought aboard gives them some boiler plating as well as some padding in the bar sales.

[lysolqn]

and folks wonder why RCI had a ban on carry on liquor. Doubt the truth will ever be known.

 

And "how to smuggle booze onboard" threads will continue to thrive as those who wish to learn are tutored by those who are happy to share their creative machinations and success stories re sticking it to the cruise line - both the former and the latter being chartered members of the "Rules Are for Everyone but Me" Club.

[Ocean Boy]

And "how to smuggle booze onboard" threads will continue to thrive as those who wish to learn are tutored by those who are happy to share their creative machinations and success stories re sticking it to the cruise line - both the former and the latter being chartered members of the "Rules Are for Everyone but Me" Club.

 

And I would wager that RCI has someone on staff to read every one of those threads and take notes.