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

[Jean]

I haven't heard it either. Someone was speculating at one time, on this thread, that maybe he was gay. Speculation on this thread is the only time I have ever heard that mentioned before KatherineQ's post.

 

[SewingDeb]

Same here, Jean.

 

[kato]

This story seems absolutely beyond belief to me. They have video of these men going into the room with George, and then people heard shouting, and then a half hour later ship crew took his drugged/drunk/passed out in the middle of the cruiseship hallway wife back to her room.

This isn't rocket science. Am I missing something? The men who are seen going into the room tossed George overboard.

And this case has been very very confused because it appears someone drugged the wife so they could have sex with George who is a gay man.

I've only paid kind of peripheral attention to this case, but isn't all that right?

You said you haven't been following this case closely. Some of us have and have never heard the "gay" rumor. Just where did you hear this?

 

[KatherineQ]

Here, actually in this forum, Kato And that's what I get for following this case loosely and not reading the posts all the way. ;D

I read the thread about perhaps he's gay, and thought it said he WAS gay, and most memorable was the post about women who marry gay men to cover being called "beards". In it went, as fact, the rumor.

Sorry.

 

[kato]

No need to be sorry just hadn't heard that before. I must have missed reading that.

 

[SewingDeb]

I don't think it was ever stated as fact. It was pure speculation.

 

[T'sNana]

I am still teetering between accident (likely related to the very strong alcohol they were drinking - as reported) and murder. I have seen really drunk people do things I never believed they'd be able to do. JMO. But, with all the other alleged crimes on the cruise lines (Amy missing, alleged rapes, etc.), you just never know!

 

[Bobbisangel]

Here, actually in this forum, Kato And that's what I get for following this case loosely and not reading the posts all the way. ;D

I read the thread about perhaps he's gay, and thought it said he WAS gay, and most memorable was the post about women who marry gay men to cover being called "beards". In it went, as fact, the rumor.

Sorry.

I wonder why anyone would even speculate that George was gay. That is reaching pretty far and it is a nasty thing to even speculate without having some reason for speculating. George and Jennifer dated for a long time before they got married. There has never even been a hint that George was anything but straight. I hope his family doesn't read these boards because I think they would be crushed. They are such nice people who were so close to their children and are in such deep pain. Even we all have a right to our opinions I think it is wise to be careful about what we speculate.

This isn't aimed at you Katherine. It is just something that we all need to be careful of and I think it was a thoughtless remark made by someone.

 

[kgeaux]

I wonder why anyone would even speculate that George was gay. That is reaching pretty far and it is a nasty thing to even speculate without having some reason for speculating. George and Jennifer dated for a long time before they got married. There has never even been a hint that George was anything but straight. I hope his family doesn't read these boards because I think they would be crushed. They are such nice people who were so close to their children and are in such deep pain. Even we all have a right to our opinions I think it is wise to be careful about what we speculate.

This isn't aimed at you Katherine. It is just something that we all need to be careful of and I think it was a thoughtless remark made by someone.

It's been suggested on multiple forums for quite some time now. I don't think the speculation is meant to disparage George's reputation, it seems more like an attempt to explain why these two young people on their honeymoon were comfortable spending long periods of time apart.

I agree with you that the family would be hurt to know such speculation is going on, and I'm glad that you reminded us of that. I know that if I were in their shoes, I'd want my loved one treated with respect and honesty.

I personally hope that if they are reading any boards, it's this one. Because some of the other ones are treating speculation as fact and have VERY ugly things to say.

 

[Maybe So]

My opinion. Jennifer does not act as a grieving wife should act. I can't remember now what show she was on but she reminded me of Scott Peterson. She said something about George being with her or she can talk to George (in her mind) with sort of a smile on her face and that sort of freaked me out. She seems really concerned with herself.

I don't believe she can't remember anything from almost that whole day.

I don't know if I think she was involved....just that her reactions and statements are a bit off. I don't think she murdered him herself...but something isn't right with her.

My first impression is that George either accidently or on purpose went over the railing himself. Drunk people can to many things and he was athletic. I am thinking anger over not knowing where his wife was or perhaps over knowing exactly what she was doing with someone else made him decide to throw himself over the railing...or to threaten to throw himself over the railing. I have known people who drank way too much and who had very highly emotional relationships with their spouses where they threatened to hurt themselves all the time when they were drunk...theatrics sort of stuff. I think something like that may have happened...or not.

I found this Blog an interesting read....about Jennifer's answers in interviews being off.

http://eyesforlies.blogspot.com/2006/01/jennifer-hagel-smith.html

 

[southernpixie]

Wow - great blog!

 

[HeartofTexas]

I haven't followed this case as closely as some of you have but my own gut feelings on this case and another one I saw highlighted on TV in the last couple of weeks is that there is something fishy going on with some of the employees on these cruise lines. I find it incredibly odd that two different people (Jennifer and then another man who "fell off" another boat and ended up swimming for 17 hours) have absolutely no recollection of what happened for several hours prior to their disaster. It sounds like someone is drugging them (date rape drug?) for some nefarious purpose and, in the process, they lose their memory of all events surrounding the taking of the drug.

I watched Jennifer's recent interview on Oprah and the only thing I noticed was that she seemed angry and defensive. I think I would, too, if I was on my honeymoon, my husband went missing, and then I was interviewed as a possible suspect by foreign police and subsequently written up in various tabloids as an accomplice to my husband's disappearance. I didn't see any signs of Scott Peterson in her. JMHO.

 

[englishleigh]

I have thought from the beginning that Jennifer knows what happened, or has more of an idea of what happened than she has let on. I think she married George for his money and while on the honeymoon cruise, by chance met someone else she'd rather be with...George was drunk and jealous and either committed suicide or was "helped" over the railing by someone, but I think it is connected to something Jennifer was doing or not doing. I don't think she is directly responsible herself, but I think her actions contributed to what happened to her husband, and I think she knows it.

Just my humble opinion.

 

[kgeaux]

I haven't followed this case as closely as some of you have but my own gut feelings on this case and another one I saw highlighted on TV in the last couple of weeks is that there is something fishy going on with some of the employees on these cruise lines. I find it incredibly odd that two different people (Jennifer and then another man who "fell off" another boat and ended up swimming for 17 hours) have absolutely no recollection of what happened for several hours prior to their disaster. It sounds like someone is drugging them (date rape drug?) for some nefarious purpose and, in the process, they lose their memory of all events surrounding the taking of the drug.

I watched Jennifer's recent interview on Oprah and the only thing I noticed was that she seemed angry and defensive. I think I would, too, if I was on my honeymoon, my husband went missing, and then I was interviewed as a possible suspect by foreign police and subsequently written up in various tabloids as an accomplice to my husband's disappearance. I didn't see any signs of Scott Peterson in her. JMHO.

I've been thinking about the date-rape drug alot in connection with this case, too. Something is going on. Too many people who have NO suicidal tendencies are ending up in the water.

 

[HeartofTexas]

Too many people who have NO suicidal tendencies are ending up in the water.

Agreed. Anyone who wanted to commit suicide wouldn't swim like crazy for 17 hours trying to stay alive.

 

[NaNaRosebud]

I think it was said that the couple had about $50,000.00 dollars cash with them that they got from the reception. Where is that money? Has anyone heard what happened to it. I read that George was bragging when he was drunk earlier in the week about having a large amount of money hidden in his room.

 

[Niner]

I think it's possible she was the target. Or it was a robbery gone bad. I don't think we'll ever know.

I just started reading "thoroughly" on this case just this past week, and have printed up the 8 pages (so far!) of this discussion and haven't had a chance YET to read all of the articles that have been posted here. Hopefully will get to those this coming week! LOL! Anyway...

I did read a few articles about this case in the Globe & NE - I know... they are NOT the most reliable!! but... here's a few quotes from them!

Oh - before I post these - wanted to know:

Did they keep any cash in that safe that was ransacked? The one that is seen left open in the photos (from Cosby show I believe?) ? I believe it could have been a robbery gone bad as you say MrsMush! If he had won a bunch of money earlier in the casino, and these 4 guys helping him to his cabin... well...

also - I noticed in the beginning of this thread - it said "no discussion" on this thread - is there another one - somewhere - where this discussion is going on and I don't know about it!!??? But it looks like you all are discussing it here!

I'll post those articles in the next post...

 

[Niner]

which I don't think has been posted before.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9356611/

Apparently there are hundreds of hidden cameras all over the boat; 97 tapes have been turned over to investigators.

well... that solves their case! With ALL those tapes, you would THINK they can could follow the 'prime' people in this case!

 

[Niner]

Later they talked about helping George to his room. He was so drunk that he could barely walk. The 3 guys helped him walk to his room. After they got there George asked if they would help him go find Jennifer. They did help him. They walked around looking and went as far as the pool but didn't see her anywhere. He said they took George back to his room and helped him get into bed. He thanked them and told them that he was going to buy them some type of drinks the next night. The kid said that they left George in bed and went to his room.

wonder "which" side of the bed they put him in and 'which' side the cabin person(s?) put Jennifer? eh?

If George was as drunk as this boy says he was there is no way he could have stood on that chair on the deck, sat on the railing and fallen off onto the awning. There may have been a foot print on the chair but you can bet it wasn't Georges.

I was just thinking... when my husband gets drunk... he is very disoriented if he needs to get up in the middle of the night and in a 'strange' room - he wonders around (sleepy like) and can't FIND the bathroom... maybe he fell off the balcony? just a thought! LOL!

Maybe Dr. Lee will be able to get some info from his tests. Maybe him and the FBI can put their heads together and figure out what happened. To me it is obvious that someone murdered George for some reason...but who?

I think... $$$$

 

[Niner]

It had been reported earlier that it was "bloody fingerprints" so I'm thinking small sized smudges.

saw a Forensic Files or could have been a Cold Case File (?) about bloody fingerprints in blood on sheet - and the case was solved! They had good prints - but had to wait a couple of years to match up the print! so it CAN be done!

SLIGHTLY OFF TOPIC: Did anyone catch a show the other day-I think this was whatever early morning news show comes on ABC--there was a man who'd gone overboard on a cruise? He swam for like 17 hours before he was rescued by a foreign ship?

This guy says he was drinking, that's the last he remembers. (I was half asleep, I can't remember if he was gambling or listening to a band or just in the ship's bar) Then he suddenly comes to and he is in the ocean. He's wearing his shirt and boxers and socks. His pants and shoes are missing. He does not believe he jumped or fell overboard, he believes there was foul play. His pants and shoes were not in his cabin, which tends to support his theory. His story, and I only caught half of it, makes me wonder if there are employees/passengers on cruise ships that maybe slip a date-rape type of drug into the drink of someone who's flashing money around. It'd make a big guy easy to rob. Then just dump them overboard if they think the person might recall something about the robbery?

NOT off topic at all Kgeaux!! WOW!! Now this might have happened to George!!