Assault on the Elation

[lcpagejr]

Kind of scary. Anyone can accuse you and you’re automatically guilty.

 

I'm sure there was some evidence...Carnival has camera's everywhere. Up to the authorities to figure it out!!

 

But I also think about the "me too" movement???? Sometimes I really wonder? I'm sure a very high % is accurate but I feel bad for the poor soul(s) that may get sucked in with past accusations which are she said/he said.... and a person is using the current high visibility on this topic for a personal gain

[torcruise]

To everyone debating whether the victim was a child, or asking where the mom was, these questions don’t matter. An act of sexual misconduct occurred and it doesn’t matter what the victim’s age was or if she was alone. None of these variables should shift the full blame away from the perpetrator.

 

 

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I'm not debating if her age matters, I just don't like fake news and spin. I just like the facts to be presented unaltered.

[BookDragon]

I'm sure there was some evidence...Carnival has camera's everywhere. Up to the authorities to figure it out!!

 

But I also think about the "me too" movement???? Sometimes I really wonder? I'm sure a very high % is accurate but I feel bad for the poor soul(s) that may get sucked in with past accusations which are she said/he said.... and a person is using the current high visibility on this topic for a personal gain

 

Just don’t see how your comments regarding the #Metoo movement have any bearing on this particular situation involving a mentally disabled 18 year old girl..on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean, far away from news cameras.

[cruising_is_life3535]

If it happened to a guy we wouldn’t even be talking about it nor would it have made the news.

[salty dingo]

To everyone debating whether the victim was a child, or asking where the mom was, these questions don’t matter. An act of sexual misconduct occurred and it doesn’t matter what the victim’s age was or if she was alone. None of these variables should shift the full blame away from the perpetrator.

I think I get this point, but actually age probably does matter. An 18 year old is an adult, even with the mind of a child, still an adult. It may matter if laws are harsher if the victim is a child. In this case the victim was not a child. Also a good lawyer will question if she gave consent. The ship videos everywhere, so if she put up a fight the video will prove it. If she did not resist that will be clear also.

[payitforward]

I'm not debating if her age matters, I just don't like fake news and spin. I just like the facts to be presented unaltered.

 

I don't think the poster you quoted meant to "spin," but rather was pointing out that many people immediately jumped in to "blame" the mother for not having eyes on her 18 year-old daughter 24/7. (They said she has the mental capacity of a "young teen." Does that mean 13, 15, 16, what? There are plenty of 13 year-olds who can be left alone for periods of time. ) On that, I agree. If this assault is determined to have occurred, the mother and daughter should not be blamed for the actions of a depraved stranger.

[tidecat]

I don't think the poster you quoted meant to "spin," but rather was pointing out that many people immediately jumped in to "blame" the mother for not having eyes on her 18 year-old daughter 24/7. (They said she has the mental capacity of a "young teen." Does that mean 13, 15, 16, what? There are plenty of 13 year-olds who can be left alone for periods of time. ) On that, I agree. If this assault is determined to have occurred, the mother and daughter should not be blamed for the actions of a depraved stranger.

According to CBS 47 Jacksonville and a certain lawyer who specializes in representing people against cruise lines, the victim was cruising with her grandmother and her friends; her mother was not on the cruise.

[Ralphinsc]

I know one of the two main hot tubs on the Elation has a CC camera on it at all times that is broadcast on the TV into the rooms (along with the pool). And that area is very high trafficked and the pools/hot tubs are usually quite full; often with kids.

[Keith1010]

Thanks for sharing this.

Keith

[Essiesmom]

There are a lot of things here that we don't know. Now they are saying she was traveling with her friends? Were some of them in the hot tub, too? Did she know that what the 'perpetrator' was doing was wrong? Or did she just chirp about it to her 'guardian' onboard and she jumped to report it? We probably will never know. EM

[tradosaurus]

Where is the father?

[Joebucks]

There are a lot of things here that we don't know. Now they are saying she was traveling with her friends? Were some of them in the hot tub, too? Did she know that what the 'perpetrator' was doing was wrong? Or did she just chirp about it to her 'guardian' onboard and she jumped to report it? We probably will never know. EM

 

Yup. All we need to do is claim sexual assault and that's that. For all we know she might have been for whatever was happening then the mom comes in and says this girl has no mental capacity to know better, you assaulted her. Because he is supposed to know that.

 

Who knows, he may very well be guilty. Put down your pitchforks every time someone is accused though. Innocent until proven guilty.

[Cinders411]

To everyone debating whether the victim was a child, or asking where the mom was, these questions don’t matter. An act of sexual misconduct occurred and it doesn’t matter what the victim’s age was or if she was alone. None of these variables should shift the full blame away from the perpetrator.

 

 

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Agreed! Also while we blame the mother my take on the article I read was she was not on the cruise. The girl was with her grandmother.

 

"The woman says her daughter left on a birthday cruise with her grandmother on the Elation last weekend."

[bakersdozen12]

Things like this can happen anywhere. Best to stay out of it and not speculate. Let the authorities handle it. There are always two sides to every story, and unfortunately news articles generally only represent one side. Raise your kids right, educate them, and practice good (active) parenting. That’s the best you can do for your kids to keep them safe.

 

 

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[Aquahound]

Some of the questions in this thread could be answered by just reading the article. The answers are right there.

 

The victim is 18 years old with the mental capacity of a 13 year old. She was cruising with her grandmother. The victim has scratches and marks on her body. A suspect has been identified and is detained aboard the ship. FBI and USCG are investigating.

 

That's what we know so far (or at least, can surmise from the article). The rest is speculation. We'll just have to wait to see what the investigation reveals.

[cruisenewbie79]

Where is the father?

 

What does that matter? What are you trying to imply?

The girl was on vacation with her grandmother.

[h_blond2]

Where is the father?

 

Why in the world does that matter? If I were to be sexually assaulted while on vacation, the whereabouts of my father would have nothing to do with it.

[Keys2Heaven]

According to CBS 47 Jacksonville and a certain lawyer who specializes in representing people against cruise lines, the victim was cruising with her grandmother and her friends; her mother was not on the cruise.

 

After reading the many knee-jerk responses, I was wondering if anybody actually bothered to read the story.

[ProgRockCruiser]

After reading the many knee-jerk responses, I was wondering if anybody actually bothered to read the story.

The story has been updated throughout the day. Some details were not present in the original story - it certainly has more info than when I first read it - e.g. no mention of scratches or marks when I first read it, IIRC.

[Mikew0805]

Shame on anyone who jumps to blaming the victim and/or automatically finding the accused... guilty. I did read the article, before even scrolling to the first response. CCL likely has cameras, and I would hope that since there is video of a man being escorted off the ship into a police car, that there is some evidence that points to his guilt. Just playing devils advocate here, but if there is some question to the young lady's mental capacity, is there a chance that something was said or done that was mis-interpreted? Marks could come from anywhere. It seems that accusations of sexual abuse/mis conduct are treated as automatically guilty, vs. innocent until proven guilty.

 

If this many is guilty of assaulting this girl, then I hope he rots in prison.

[TerReuv]

Wow. So many people didn't read the article before responding. She is 18 with special needs and has the mentality of a 13 year old. She went on a trip with her grandmother. It didn't say why the girl was alone.

 

I don't want to be casting blame, but this says it all....

"It’s a shame that we guard her so much at home and then when they do go out to have a good time, this is what happens," the Florida mom said of the alleged attack on her daughter.

 

If they guard her so much at home, why was she alone? It sounds to me as if they know she needs to have someone with her, so where was the grandmother?

 

They did detain the man, so they know who it was.

[Keys2Heaven]

The story has been updated throughout the day. Some details were not present in the original story - it certainly has more info than when I first read it - e.g. no mention of scratches or marks when I first read it, IIRC.

 

Well, that does have some bearing now. Still, some of the responses and assumptions....:confused:

[torcruise]

Why in the world does that matter? If I were to be sexually assaulted while on vacation, the whereabouts of my father would have nothing to do with it.

:'):'):'):'):'):')I think that was a joke in response to people asking where her mother was

[marshhawk]

Think back to your youth-at what age did your parents stop watching you all the time. And at what point is it alright to attack a woman of any age. And from what I can tell only half of you read the article. Hmmmm.

Poor child.

[RWolver672]

The one thing that no one else has mentioned is the quote "she was in the hot tub with a bunch of kids." I'm not saying it didn't happen but it seems odd that a person would sexually assault someone in a hot tub with a bunch of kids also in the hot tub.

 

As for her age and mental capacity, if it did happen, it could have happened to a woman of 28 or 50 or 70. The mother said that she "thinks" he had been stalking her. He could have stalked any woman and done the same thing. Not blaming grandmother at all. It could have happened to any woman.