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

[Sorricharli]

Huge settlement for family sickened by toxic pesticide on vacation[/QUOTE]

FWIW (granted I haven’t been to a Caribbean all-inclusive-type resort since June 96), but thereafter, we have personally never even considered one of these places, just based upon the horrible experience we had at a very expensive all-inclusive Jamaican resort.... within 36 hrs of our arrival, my new bride became deathly ill, with horrendous upper & lower GI problems.... after 4 days of this, I decided to cut short our honeymoon, eat the sunk $8K costs of the prepaid two week, multiple island trip, and bring my bride and I back home to Atlanta (and her to Emory Hospital). During my prior 4 days of wandering around the resort, neighboring resorts and the like, I saw so many instances of unsanitary conditions, pests, casual usage of pesticides, along with the dumping of “treated” grey water, into the very same ocean beach area, in which guests (including she and I) were allowed to sun and frolic in the surf, mysterious brown water emerging from in-room bath faucets, etc, that heading back to Atlanta was our best choice... in retrospect, shame on me for not fully understanding what I signed us up for, as well as our “resort snobby” expectations... upon hearing of these DR incidents, my initial thoughts were along these same lines of concern - did these folks really understand what they agreeing to?

 

[Inthedetails]

Have you ever traveled with Europeans? They drink enormous amounts of alcohol and overeat like champs, too.

I read that the majority of tourists to DR are actually European, rather than USA or Canadians

Do we know if other nationalities are also getting sick and/or dying while on vacation in DR?

jmo

 

[margarita25]

Did any of these persons have hallucinations by any chance? Just wondering, tia. If so, I’ll tell you why I ask this, otherwise it’s irrelevant.

Sorry I haven’t been able to keep up on WS lately due to “life”. Gets in the way sometimes unfortunately.

 

[margarita25]

I'm freaking out... going to DR within a year... ahhhhh

Coincidentally, right before Portia and Orlando, I had been researching DR and I can’t remember why, but I came across many videos on YouTube by Americans living there now, and their advice for travelers. These videos outline the corruption (some videos advise just paying the cops flat out when they pull you over), the scams by the locals...anyway I recommend checking some of these out.

 

[MsFacetious]

I feel like if someone was stealing drinks from the mini bar they would just top it off with water like we did to our parents’ alcohol when we were teenagers! I think the person/people who are doing this are intending to cause injury or death. This is scary stuff and I really hope there’s a real investigation and transparency.

Definitely. It would be easy to just get water from the hotel bathroom to refill. No need to use your pesticide to do it.

Remembering the Tylenol murders, I hope that someone gets to the bottom of this ASAP. If my husband asks me if I want to go to a beautiful resort in the DR, I'll be worried. How many will want to take someone there that they want gone and have the blame shifted elsewhere? Yikes!

The Tylenol murders were what were going through my mind the whole time I was reading this. That is why we have the precautions that we do here. It wouldn't take much for someone similar to just use a syringe and squirt something into random bottles.

Wife takes a drink, husband does not. Husband takes a drink, wife does not. Both take a drink. It would explain the discrepancy when both do not die.

Bodies of Maryland couple found dead in Dominican Republic returned to US

RIP

I wonder if there was any indication that this couple had used their mini bar? I'm guessing they had but I haven't seen it stated.

Also, I hope they've already had autopsies and tox screens done on U.S. soil.

 

[JerseyGirl]

*updated the title to 7*

Dominican Republic deaths: Tourism officials are trying to reassure travelers their country is safe - CNN

Nathaniel Holmes - Bahia Principe, La Romana
Cynthia Day - Bahia Principe, La Romana
Miranda Schaup-Werner - Bahia Principe, La Romana
John Corcoran - (not disclosed)
Robert Wallace - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Punta Cana
David Harrison - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Punta Cana
Yvette Monique Sport - Bahia Principe, Punta Cana

 

[Jackielee09]

I'm freaking out... going to DR within a year... ahhhhh

Pick another place, Costa Rica beautiful and I don’t think anyone trying to kill tourists.
Or if you must, be careful about who fixes your drinks.

 

[Jackielee09]

*updated the title to 7*

Dominican Republic deaths: Tourism officials are trying to reassure travelers their country is safe - CNN

Nathaniel Holmes
Cynthia Day
Miranda Schaup-Werner
John Corcoran
Robert Wallace
David Harrison
Yvette Monique Sport

Omg

 

[SeattleStew]

*updated the title to 7*

Dominican Republic deaths: Tourism officials are trying to reassure travelers their country is safe - CNN

Nathaniel Holmes - Bahia Principe, La Romana
Cynthia Day - Bahia Principe, La Romana
Miranda Schaup-Werner - Bahia Principe, La Romana
John Corcoran - (not disclosed)
Robert Wallace - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Punta Cana
David Harrison - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Punta Cana
Yvette Monique Sport - Bahia Principe, Punta Cana

From the article:

John Corcoran died at the end of April in his hotel room in the Dominican Republic, according to a statement from his sister, businesswoman and "Shark Tank" TV star Barbara Corcoran. "He passed away from what is believed to be natural causes," the statement said. "He loved and frequently visited the Dominican Republic."

 

[Inthedetails]

Coincidentally, right before Portia and Orlando, I had been researching DR and I can’t remember why, but I came across many videos on YouTube by Americans living there now, and their advice for travelers. These videos outline the corruption (some videos advise just paying the cops flat out when they pull you over), the scams by the locals...anyway I recommend checking some of these out.

Honestly, I don't see the appeal of the place. If the appeal is that it is a cheap vacation, well, there are other places that are cheap, including within the USA. If the appeal is the beautiful beach scenery, there are safe places that are just as beautiful. If it's the thrill of travelling to another country, I think it's wiser to save up money to visit a safe place overseas and/or explore within the USA - we are a big country with wonderful places where you won't die in your hotel room.

I don't see the glamour of going to a place where you can't trust the bottled alcohol, the hotel staff, the neighborhood outside the resort, or the law enforcement. Doesn't seem.....fun.

I do understand the country relying on tourism dollars and I feel for them that these deaths are probably going to hit their economy. That hurts. The solution is to fix not only the perception of the safety but the reality. It can be done!

jmopinion

 

[NervousNellie]

*updated the title to 7*

Dominican Republic deaths: Tourism officials are trying to reassure travelers their country is safe - CNN

Nathaniel Holmes - Bahia Principe, La Romana
Cynthia Day - Bahia Principe, La Romana
Miranda Schaup-Werner - Bahia Principe, La Romana
John Corcoran - (not disclosed)
Robert Wallace - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Punta Cana
David Harrison - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Punta Cana
Yvette Monique Sport - Bahia Principe, Punta Cana

RBBM. I find it so strange that Mr. Corcoran's accommodations have not been disclosed.

 

[neesaki]

Pennsylvania woman died at same Dominican resort complex five days before Maryland couple in similar circumstances

The FBI is conducting deeper analyses of toxicological results, the statement said, warning that conclusions may take up to a month and urging “patience during this process.”
The bureau is conducting its analysis of toxicology results for three of the six U.S. tourists in the agency’s Quantico Virginia labs, according to CBS News.

 

[JerseyGirl]

'Just don't go': US tourist warns after nightmare Dominican Republic trip

A Florida man who recently got sick with a mysterious illness while on vacation in the Dominican Republic is warning other people to just avoid visiting altogether amid recent mysterious deaths of American tourists on the island.

"Don't go, just don't go," Jerry Martin said.

Martin and his wife were staying at the Caribe Club Princess Beach Resort and Spa in Punta Cana last month for their 40th wedding anniversary.

They arrived May 17 and within just a few days Martin reportedly became sick with severe stomach pains while he was swimming in the pool.

Martin returned home to Florida where he visited the emergency room.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Kaylynn Knull, 29, and her boyfriend Tom Schwander, 33, filed a lawsuit earlier this year against the owners of Grand Bahia Principe Hotel La Romana, blaming them for causing their sickness in June 2018.

The couple had seen someone spraying the plants near the air conditioner outside their room.

They switched rooms twice, but it didn't help the symptoms.

The couple still has occasional symptoms, and they are most concerned about their future health, even after filing a lawsuit they still do not know what exactly poisoned them.

Couple: We got sick at same Dominican Republic resort where 3 Americans died

 

[Gone Girl]

Been all over the world, including the U.S. I have been threatened with guns in Acapulco and been in crazy situations in Belize, Mexico and Guatemala. I would return to any of those places tomorrow. BUT, The DR is the one place I said I would never visit again. Very bad experience inside and outside the resort. Take that for what it’s worth.

Also, keep in mind our FBI feels the need to investigate so this is not a “people die everywhere “ situation.

 

[JerseyGirl]

more people coming forward:

Vanessa McNelley-Neal and her husband, James Neal, stayed last November at the Bahia Principe hotels, where they both became violently ill.

They remained sick for three weeks after returning home and underwent several tests — but never got to the bottom of what caused the illness.

https://nypost.com/2019/06/13/atlanta-couple-struck-by-mystery-illness-on-dominican-republic-trip/

 

[JerseyGirl]

Alyssa Novick and her fiancé Josh Olerud have been planning their honeymoon to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for months. Now, they're changing the destination as news that American tourists have died and dozens more have become ill while vacationing has the couple concerned.

The breaking point for Novick was when she heard baseball legend David Ortiz was shot in the Dominican Republic this weekend while eating at an open-air bar.

Josh and Alyssa are planning on going to St. Lucia in the Caribbean instead of Punta Cana.

The U.S. Department of State put out a travel advisory for Americans traveling to the Dominican Republic, saying you should exercise increased caution.

Local Couple Cancels Honeymoon to Dominican Republic After Deaths of American Tourists

 

[Herat]

I'm getting the impression there are two general categories of illness / deaths:

1. Gastrointestinal distress, breathing issues, headaches: Maybe a mixture of
pesticide or unfamiliar intestinal bacterial issues. Lasts for days, or longer

2. Acute painful chest pain, breathing issues and sudden death. Often seems associated with alcoholic beverages from the minibar. ? Other poisoning?

 

[neesaki]

The FBI is conducting deeper analyses of toxicological results, the statement said, warning that conclusions may take up to a month and urging “patience during this process.”
The bureau is conducting its analysis of toxicology results for three of the six U.S. tourists in the agency’s Quantico Virginia labs, according to CBS News.

Apologies, I have no idea how I posted the wrong link.
Here’s the correct one.
Dominican officials plead for patience as FBI, health specialists descend on Caribbean to probe tourist deaths

 

[msphilosopher]

FBI investigating SIX mysterious American deaths at two Dominican Republic hotels within past year | Daily Mail Online

TIMELINE:

June 2018: Yvette Monique Sport, 51, of Glenside, Pennsylvania, dies after drinking from the minibar at at a Bahia Principe hotel in Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic. Family said the previously healthy Sport had the drink, went to sleep and never woke up.

June 2018: Kaylynn Knull, 29, and Tom Schwander, 33, woke up in their hotel room at the Grand Bahia Principe with a pounding headache. They returned to the room later in the day, to find a 'chemical smell'. The couple changed their flights and flew home early.

July 2018: David Harrison dies while on vacation at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Punta Cana to celebrate his wedding anniversary. He woke up struggling to breathe and covered in sweat. He died that same day. His widow said he'd visited the doctor before the trip who'd given him a clean bill of health.

October, 2018: Awilda Montes, 43, of New York, claims she drank a bottle of soda from the minibar at the Grand Bahia Principe resort in La Romana that 'turned out to be bleach.' She survived but suffered chemical burns.

April 10, 2019 : Robert Bell Wallace, 67, of California, became ill almost immediately after drinking an alcoholic beverage from his in-room minibar at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino resort in Punta Cana - the same hotel as Harrison.

April 14: Wallace dies in hospital four days after falling ill.

May 25: Miranda Schaup-Werner, 41, of Pennsylvannia, dies within hours of consuming a drink from a resort minibar across the island at Bahia Principe Hotel in La Romana.

May 25: Cynthia Day, 49, and Nathaniel Holmes, 63, of Maryland, check into the Bahia Principe Hotel, La Romana.

May 30: Day and Holmes are found dead in their rooms.