TURKEY - George Smith, 26, missing from cruise ship, July 2005

[Jeana (DP)]

Evidence of a crime is vastly different from suspicion of a crime.

There are all kinds of "indications" that a crime occurred. I'd say compared to the "circumstantial" evidence crimes that we've talked about, there is more to this one than others. I'm not saying that his wife had anything to do with it, but there was some "evidence" that some crime was committed in this case.

 

[Wudge]

How about the picture of the big glob of blood on the balcony?? :doh: :doh: Well, at least Wudge you are saying there is a suspicion of a crime. We're making progress.

Accidents do happen, and their liklihood increases if a person is intoxicated. Hence, by itself, the blood smear beneath the balcony certainly cannot be adduced as clear evidence of a crime.

 

[Wudge]

There are all kinds of "indications" that a crime occurred. I'd say compared to the "circumstantial" evidence crimes that we've talked about, there is more to this one than others. I'm not saying that his wife had anything to do with it, but there was some "evidence" that some crime was committed in this case.

People who suspect a crime might have occurred are doing just that, "suspecting", nothing more.

In high-profile situations such as this one, the suspicions people have are often totally unfounded or greatly misdirected.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

People who suspect a crime might have occurred are doing just that, "suspecting", nothing more.

In high-profile situations such as this one, the suspicions people have are often totally unfounded or greatly misdirected.

Yeah, well that's how an investigation begins, IMO.

 

[Wudge]

Yeah, well that's how an investigation begins, IMO.

(chuckle)

By a huge margin, the sequence of: suspecting, prospecting, discovering what is believed to be gold and then assaying that find, more often results in the discovery of fool's gold than gold itself.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

(chuckle)

By a huge margin, the sequence of: suspecting, prospecting, discovering what is believed to be gold and then assaying that find, more often results in the discovery of fool's gold than gold itself.

Well they're in the "discovery" stage, Wudge. I don't see anyone being arrested, do you? If they don't go through this stage, they can't get much further along, right?

 

[Wudge]

Well they're in the "discovery" stage, Wudge. I don't see anyone being arrested, do you? If they don't go through this stage, they can't get much further along, right?

I would say that they are prospecting under a suspicion, which is likely misguided, that: Thar's gold in them there hills.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

I would say that they are prospecting under a suspicion, which is likely misguided, that: Thar's gold in them there hills.

Well, there was blood, there was some sort of scuffle and the dude is gone. I think common sense has to jump in there some place.

 

[Wudge]

Well, there was blood, there was some sort of scuffle and the dude is gone. I think common sense has to jump in there some place.

There was blood, George is indeed gone and there "might" have been a scuffle. All in all, at his time at least, no crime.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

There was blood, George is indeed gone and there "might" have been a scuffle. All in all, at his time at least, no crime.

Okay Wudge. Whatever you say.

 

[Tristan]

As an avid cruiser, I am very interested in this case.
I've refrained from posting much about it, but after watching
the 48 Hours special, a lot of questions have been raised:

1. Why is Royal Carribbean DENYING that the Russian men were ever
interviewed, when the interview is, in fact, on videotape??

I smell a major cover-up.


2. Is the FBI (or anyone) investigating this case?
It seems like they just want to bury it.

As for Jennifer, there is something NOT right with that girl.
When she was on Oprah, she seemed no more upset than if her
room had been robbed and she lost her jewelry...as opposed to her
HUSBAND!!

She definitely knows more than she's saying.

If I were in her position, I would be demanding answers....not letting
up until I got some. She, however, seems to already know what
happened.

I really hope someone is brought to justice for this.

This was no accident.

 

[nanandjim]

I think that there is going to be a special on this case on CTV at 10 p.m. tonight.

 

[jodierenee]

here's the link to the 48 hours article


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/06/48hours/main1476588.shtml

 

[Tristan]

I watched Court TV tonight, and I really don't think this man committed suicide.

Perhaps he accidentally fell off the ship, but I find that highly unlikely, given
the other circumstances involved. (drinking, jealousy, etc.)

I sincerely hope the FBI is investigating the Russians, as well as the
Casino Manager, "Lloyd".

 

[PrayersForMaura]

here's the link to the 48 hours article


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/06/48hours/main1476588.shtml

wow. That story was really intense!
I don't know what to think, but I do find it odd that the wife was an hour and a half early to her spa appointment after having been so hung over, and not noticing any blood or anything odd in the room with her husband being gone.

 

[michelle]

wow. That story was really intense!
I don't know what to think, but I do find it odd that the wife was an hour and a half early to her spa appointment after having been so hung over, and not noticing any blood or anything odd in the room with her husband being gone.

I know isnt it ironic????

 

[lilpony]

Wow that was a great article. I have been so interested in this case. I look all the time, to try and find info on it. Gosh, I really am hoping this case gets solved. But just not sure if it will. That was interesting to me, regarding the door and the curtains being closed, going out to the balcony. :waitasec: I am very curious, who closed them. I have been thinking, that this was an accident, and that George was sitting on the balcony(stupid I know), and just fell off. But after reading about these being closed, I have changed my mind. And why would someone want to kill George anyways? I thought maybe he was killed because he was robbed. But it has never been reported by Jennifer, that they were robbed. Very frustrating case. I feel so bad for George's family, the pain that they must be enduring, has got to be excrutiating.

 

[nanandjim]

My thought all along is that Josh Askin (sp?) killed George. I thought this because he says that he used George's bathroom. I think that is true. I think that he was the one who wiped the blood off of his hands on the towel which was found there.

If he was staying just a few doors down from George, I am interested in knowing what time he checked into his room. It would be really convenient if he says that he joined the Russian boys and ate with them before he went to his room.

If this is the case, I really think that he is involved. I think that he used the excuse of having to use the restroom, telling the three Russian boys to go ahead and he would join them soon thereafter. They left, and Josh came out of the restroom.

An argument and struggle occurred with George over I don't know what (Jennifer, perhaps??). George is bleeding at this time, but may not be aware of it because he is so drunk. Josh runs out to the balcony and George follows him, telling him to leave (goodbye three times). Josh pushes him overboard, closes the balcony doors and curtains and leaves to join the Russian boys.

This could have happened in a matter of minutes. The Russian boys may not have thought anything of it because Josh told them he had to use the restroom and joined them within 5 or so minutes.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

The fact that there was blood elsewhere in the room, the biological material on the balcony and the fact that the door and curtains were closed between the room and the balcony leads me to believe that someone pushed him off. I don't believe the wife had anything to do with it, but the fact that she said that he "slept elsewhere" another night of their cruise leads me to believe that they were either drinking too much to even be able to get along or they had some sort of alternative lifestyle. The fact that she drank too much to even remember anything will haunt her for the rest of her life. Unfortunately, the cruise industry is largely unregulated and this sort of thing will continue.

 

[Scout]

As an avid cruiser, I am very interested in this case.
I've refrained from posting much about it, but after watching
the 48 Hours special, a lot of questions have been raised:

1. Why is Royal Carribbean DENYING that the Russian men were ever
interviewed, when the interview is, in fact, on videotape??

I smell a major cover-up.


2. Is the FBI (or anyone) investigating this case?
It seems like they just want to bury it.

As for Jennifer, there is something NOT right with that girl.
When she was on Oprah, she seemed no more upset than if her
room had been robbed and she lost her jewelry...as opposed to her
HUSBAND!!

She definitely knows more than she's saying.

If I were in her position, I would be demanding answers....not letting
up until I got some. She, however, seems to already know what
happened.

I really hope someone is brought to justice for this.

This was no accident.

The interview that is on videotape is not of the Russian men. It's the interview of a young California man, Josh Askin, whose parents snuck a video camera in to tape his interview themselves. The three Russian men are from New York.

As for Jennifer, everything I've read leads me to believe that she had no involvement in her husband's disappearance/death...other than poor judgment anyway.