Dominican Republic - American tourists found dead in resorts, same cause of death, 2018/2019

[dotr]

This case discussed on these threads..
Delaware woman, Tammy Lawrence-Daley, beaten, left for dead at Dominican resort

Found Deceased - Dominican Republic - Orlando Moore & Portia Ravenelle, from NY on vacation, April 2019

Sudden deaths of Maryland couple,Cynthia Day &Nathaniel Holmes, D.Republic resort,30 May 2019

 

[PrairieWind]

This woman and her husband had just checked in, according to the first article. And she had made a mixed drink from the mini-bar. Then in less than an hour she couldn't breath. What kind of poison/toxin could cause that? The family said she had reported no illness and had no history of respiratory issues. I'm not saying its the mixed drink that caused this, but it is certainly one of the first things I would look at. A full autopsy would be needed with blood toxicology.

 

[dotr]

Couple Died of Respiratory Issues: Dominican Investigators

"Investigators announced the cause of death of the Prince George’s County, Maryland, couple found dead on May 30 while on vacation in the Dominican Republic.

Cynthia Day, 50, and her fiancé, Nathaniel Holmes, 63, were found in their room at the Bahia Principe Hotel at the resort Playa Nueva Romana along the southeast coast of the island, according to local newspaper The Dominican Today.

Investigators said they died of respiratory failure and pulmonary edema.

“It most likely indicates that there was some type of lung injury that led to basically leaking of the fluid on portions of the lungs that should be filled with air,” said Dr. Robert Shesser, chair of the department of emergency medicine at George Washington University. “When that happens, people don’t get enough oxygen and can die.”

"Police in the Dominican Republic did not confirm whether the couple's room had a carbon monoxide detector.

Speaking by phone, Sonya Jackson, Day’s sister, said the family is having a hard time believing respiratory issues caused the couple's deaths."

 

[dotr]

This case also discussed on these threads..
Delaware woman, Tammy Lawrence-Daley, beaten, left for dead at Dominican resort

Found Deceased - Dominican Republic - Orlando Moore & Portia Ravenelle, from NY on vacation, April 2019

Pennsylvania Woman,Miranda Schaup-Werner, sudden death at Dominican Republic Hotel, 25 May 2019

 

[Trident]

Air conditioner?

 

[PrairieWind]

Air conditioner?

With the engaged couple, I would that could be possible or some other such device. But Tammy was in the same room as her husband. He is fine and she died. So I don't think it was something airborne.

 

[Kittybunny]

I've heard a lot about the adulterated alcohol - sometimes with anti-freeze - would one drink be sufficient to cause that? Sometimes people drink the mini-bar drinks and re-fill with water or tea, I've not heard of them using something toxic but it's certainly a possibility.

 

[Hell0000nurse]

It could be bad alcohol or possibly some sort of pesticide or chemical in the glass she used to mix her drink (if she used a glass from the room).

 

[Hell0000nurse]

It could be bad alcohol or possibly some sort of pesticide or chemical in the glass she used to mix her drink (if she used a glass from the room).

Replying to myself to add an article on methanol toxicity. It is absorbed rapidly but it seems the effects may not present until 12-24 hours later.

Methanol Toxicity - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf

“When ingested, methanol is absorbed rapidly via the gastrointestinal tract in less than 10 minutes. Methanol is not protein-bound and is absorbed directly into the total body water compartment with a volume of distribution of approximately 0.7 L/kg. Serum concentrations peak immediately after absorption and follow a zero-order elimination rate. ”

“Patients who present within the first 12 to 24 hours following ingestion may appear normal, and this is described as the latent period. Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain subsequently ensue, followed by central nervous system (CNS) depression and hyperventilation as metabolic acidosis occurs. ”

 

[PrairieWind]

Would consumption of methanol cause pulmonary edema?

 

[alexwood]

Wouldn’t the drinks in the mini bar be sealed? Or maybe someone would not notice if they weren’t?

I was thinking the same. Back in the olden days (my youth), they were merely screw-off tops that were not connected to any perforated metal ring around the bottle neck. I'm thinking specifically of miniature bottles of liquor, such as you would expect to find in a mini-bar in a hotel room. I would think now, though, that these bottles would be sealed and that seal would have to be broken by twisting the cap off before getting at the contents.

 

[lucylulu]

I was thinking the same. Back in the olden days (my youth), they were merely screw-off tops that were not connected to any perforated metal ring around the bottle neck. I'm thinking specifically of miniature bottles of liquor, such as you would expect to find in a mini-bar in a hotel room. I would think now, though, that these bottles would be sealed and that seal would have to be broken by twisting the cap off before getting at the contents.

On holiday in Mexico, our resort had a rack and pour liquor dispenser in the mini bar.

 

[Hell0000nurse]

Would consumption of methanol cause pulmonary edema?

Yes, anything that effects the heart or kidneys could result in pulmonary edema.

Methanol Toxicity Clinical Presentation: History, Physical Examination

ETA—- that link isn’t a good one, need a subscription to view. This one describes the effects of a wide range http://medind.nic.in/jaw/t15/i1/jawt15i1p38.pdf

 

[alexwood]

This woman and her husband had just checked in, according to the first article. And she had made a mixed drink from the mini-bar. Then in less than an hour she couldn't breath. What kind of poison/toxin could cause that? The family said she had reported no illness and had no history of respiratory issues. I'm not saying its the mixed drink that caused this, but it is certainly one of the first things I would look at. A full autopsy would be needed with blood toxicology.

Alcohol tainted with cyanide possibly.

 

[FleurQualia]

You know, I am sure the DR is a beautiful place full of lovely people.

But obviously very dangerous for tourists, and the government/resorts seem uncooperative in these investigations.

I am not headed there anytime soon.

 

[Barnabas]

My daughter and her husband had their honeymoon at Rui Palace in Punta Cana last fall, and I hope they never go back. I worried the whole time and this stuff hadn't even happened yet. It sounds like it has to be some kind of poison, doesn't it? Someone might be tampering with the drinks or something.

 

[dotr]

This pertains to Mexico, but who knows?
U.S. State Department warns tourists about tainted alcohol at Mexico resorts after blackouts reported
Dec 29 2017
"The updated warning comes in the wake of a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation surrounding a Wisconsin woman’s death that raised questions about drinks being served in all-inclusive resorts in Mexico.

RELATED: Tourists to all-inclusive resorts in Mexico suspect they were given tainted alcohol

RELATED: A Mexican vacation, a mysterious death, and now endless questions for Wisconsin family

Following the initial report, the Journal Sentinel has received accounts from more than three dozen people reporting similar experiences after drinking limited amounts of alcohol at such resorts.

“Following these reports and in consultation with our Posts in Mexico, we updated our Country Specific Information for Mexico to provide updated safety information regarding potentially tainted alcohol,” the department official said in the email.

The blackouts have happened to men and women, young and old, to singles and to couples, according to interviews with travelers and family members whose loved ones died or were injured at the resorts, as well as hospital records, ambulance receipts, hotel correspondence and other documents.

Abbey Conner, a 20-year-old from Pewaukee, died in January after being pulled listless from a pool at the Paraiso del Mar, part of a cluster of Iberostar resorts near Playa del Carmen, Mexico. She was brain dead, and a few days later was flown to Florida, where she was taken off life support.


Her brother, 22-year-old Austin, also reported blacking out. He had a lump on his forehead and a severe concussion. The two had arrived with their mother and step-father at the resort just hours earlier and had been drinking at a swim-up bar.

Numerous others told the Journal Sentinel of similar experiences, with several couples reporting blacking out at the same time. A woman from Neenah reported being sexually assaulted, while her husband woke with a broken hand.

Blackout incidents have happened at Iberostar’s property in Cancun and at the company's cluster of resorts 30 miles to the south in Playa del Carmen. Incidents were also reported at other all-inclusive resorts in the region."

 

[Hell0000nurse]

I would think there would be a lot of other signs of methanol or rubbing alcohol toxicity during the autopsy and I’m not quite convinced that it would take effect as quick as this woman’s symptoms and death.

 

[PrairieWind]

I would think there would be a lot of other signs of methanol or rubbing alcohol toxicity during the autopsy and I’m not quite convinced that it would take effect as quick as this woman’s symptoms and death.

I just don't know. Absolutely w ould need to have toxicology. I know about methanol and that it sometimes shows up or is substituted and seems to be on the rise. I know it can cause blindness and sometimes death, but I didn't know anything about how long it takes and how it actually kills, etc. You better believe I will be learning more now though.
I have been to some all-inclusive resorts where you have a free bar in the room. The wine, champagne is all new, but you can tell that the liquor in some of the resorts is just the same bottles that they are refilling. So you have no idea what is going in them. Poor quality control in distilling can produce methanol levels. So maybe a hotel would use some cheap booze to save money. But for booze to kill a woman with one cocktail? Wow. Maybe the maid (or whoever) accidentally filled the bottle with something else entirely? How thorough of an investigation can we expect here?

 

[Hell0000nurse]

I just don't know. Absolutely w ould need to have toxicology. I know about methanol and that it sometimes shows up or is substituted and seems to be on the rise. I know it can cause blindness and sometimes death, but I didn't know anything about how long it takes and how it actually kills, etc. You better believe I will be learning more now though.
I have been to some all-inclusive resorts where you have a free bar in the room. The wine, champagne is all new, but you can tell that the liquor in some of the resorts is just the same bottles that they are refilling. So you have no idea what is going in them. Poor quality control in distilling can produce methanol levels. So maybe a hotel would use some cheap booze to save money. But for booze to kill a woman with one cocktail? Wow. Maybe the maid (or whoever) accidentally filled the bottle with something else entirely? How thorough of an investigation can we expect here?

I would hope a very thorough investigation. I would hate to think the DR would cover something up to not scare away tourists but unfortunately they may try, tourism is their life line for most parts.