SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – A couple was found dead Thursday in an apparent murder-suicide aboard a Holland America Line cruise ship that docked in Puerto Rico, officials said.
The unidentified man and woman were in their 50's and from Cleveland, Ohio, police Sgt. Ricardo Cruz told The Associated Press. The Lisbon Morning Journal said the couple is from Salem, Ohio and it is believed they flew out of Cleveland.
Their names were not released yet, but the newspaper reported the Salem police chief said there was a domestic incident at the couple's home recently.
Cruz said blood was found in the cabin aboard the Ryndam, but it was unclear how the couple died. "We don't know yet whether an object was used or what the motive was," he said.
He said the ship's crew found the bodies when they checked on the couple after not seeing them for a while.
The FBI has taken over the investigation.
It was unclear exactly when the couple died. The ship departed Tampa, Florida, on Sunday for a two-week cruise in the southern Caribbean. It stopped in Key West on Monday and then spent two days at sea before docking in historic Old San Juan on Thursday, Holland America spokesman Erik Elvejord said.
"We are terribly saddened by this tragic event," the company said in a statement.
Cruise ship passengers said they were not aware of what had happened.
"This is a shock to me," said Mark Moore of Watertown, New York, who was traveling with his wife.
He said the crew had roped off part of the ship and hung a sheet in the hallway as passengers disembarked around noon.
The Ryndam was scheduled to depart Puerto Rico late Thursday and arrive in St. Thomas on Friday.
Below is the complete statement issued by Holland America Line:
Seattle, April 2, 2015 – At approximately 11:30 am local time, two guests onboard ms Ryndam were found deceased in their stateroom in what appears to be a murder-suicide. The cabin was immediately secured and the authorities were notified, including the FBI. We are cooperating fully with the investigation and the authorities will make the official determination on what occurred.
We are terribly saddened by this tragic event and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of these guests at this difficult time.
The ship is currently alongside in San Juan, Puerto Rico. ms Ryndam departed on March 29 on a 14-day Southern Caribbean sailing, roundtrip Tampa.
