Cruise ship passenger dies mysteriously after being detained by security following a reported confrontation with the ship’s crew.
Cruise ship passenger dies after violent altercation
According to a report, the incident was captured on video by another guest and shared with FOX 11 News, showing 35-year-old Michael Virgil yelling and forcefully kicking at a door, seemingly attempting to break through while aboard the Mexico-bound vessel.
Witnesses allege that Virgil had attacked two crew members and issued threats during the altercation.
Passenger Christifer Mikhail recounted a chaotic scene, explaining that Virgil began harassing others roughly an hour after the ship left San Pedro.
“The gentleman who was drunk said that he was going to kill us,” Mikhail stated in an interview with FOX 11’s Hailey Winslow. He added, “He started chasing us down the hallway.”
Mikhail described witnessing Virgil assault two crew members and kick at a door in an apparent attempt to reach one of them. Recorded footage shows a shirtless Virgil yelling aggressively in the corridor.
“I was kind of scared,” Mikhail admitted. “I’m stuck in this hallway.” Adding further, he noted that Virgil had been “asking for God to forgive him” during the chaotic encounter.
Ship security allegedly used zip ties, handcuffs, and something similar to bear or pepper spray to subdue Virgil, who passed away within an hour of being detained, based on claims in the report.
Cruise ship passenger dies of unknown causes
A relative of Virgil suspects he was given “some sort of sedative” prior to his death. His family insists this behavior was entirely out of character. They remain unsure what could have triggered the incident. Officially, the cause of death is yet to be determined.
A spokesperson related to Virgil revealed that he leaves behind his 7-year-old son, who has autism, along with his fiancé. Both were with him on the cruise.
“He didn’t deserve to die over it,” the spokesperson stated. Another witness, Mikhail, said, “Nobody deserves to die, especially like that. May he rest in peace, he just needed some help.”
The Royal Caribbean Group responded via a statement shared with FOX 11 News, saying, “We are saddened by the passing of one of our guests. We offered support to the family and are working with authorities on their investigation.”
Separately, another incident involving sexual misconduct on a cruise ship led to the conviction of a college student.
James Thomas Kelley, a former college football player, was found guilty of aggravated sexual abuse, sexual assault, and rape of a 17-year-old girl aboard a Carnival Cruise.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland confirmed Kelley, now 22, faces a maximum life sentence for his crimes.
Cruise passenger sexually assaulted by college football player
Prosecutors detailed that Kelley had met the teen on January 1, 2023, during a party aboard the Carnival Legend.
Offering to escort her to his cabin when she needed a restroom, he later forced himself on her after she stepped out of the bathroom.
According to court filings, Kelley pushed the girl onto the bed “face first” before sexually assaulting her.
Following the assault, Kelley allegedly turned to the teenager and asked, “You good?”—a statement cited directly from court documentation.
The cruise returned to Baltimore on January 2, after which the victim left the ship with her family and reported the assault to local authorities.
Medical examinations revealed bruising on her arm and shins, along with “vaginal abrasions, tearing and bruising,” as per court records.
Kelley was confronted by FBI agents in April 2023 while attending Wingate University, where he played as a running back for their football team.
During the interrogation, Kelley acknowledged kissing and touching the girl but claimed their interaction was consensual. He admitted to knowing the girl was intoxicated, even describing her as “vulnerable.”
Prosecutors highlighted troubling claims about Kelley’s history, categorizing him as a repeat offender with multiple allegations against him, including incidents as far back as 2017.
Notably, he had been convicted for a separate sexual assault when he was a minor in 2019.
During Kelley’s trial, jurors heard testimony from six other individuals alleging they were victims of his sexual misconduct.
Prosecutors labeled his actions as a disturbing pattern, writing, “Kelley has an alarming history of allegations of sexual assault from males and females spanning from early 2017 through September 2023,” according to the New York Post.
Following the revelation of the cruise assault, another student at Wingate University came forward accusing Kelley of second-degree rape.
The State newspaper reported there was an outstanding arrest warrant for Kelley related to this incident in Union County, North Carolina, as of November 2023.
