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Cruise Ship Says Passenger Killed Herself

By MARK THIESSEN
,
AP
posted: 2 HOURS 55 MINUTES AGO
comments: 116
filed under: National News
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Aug. 4) -- A woman who went overboard from the cruise ship Zaandam appears to have committed suicide, Holland America said Tuesday.
"Based on evidence and information to date, it does not appear to be foul play," spokeswoman Sally Andrews said from Seattle. "From what we have seen to date, it appears to be a suicide. Of course, the final determination will be made by the investigating authorities with whom we are cooperating fully"
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Lost at Sea
Amber Malkuch was reported missing Monday morning from the cruise ship Zaandam, shown here, while it was in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park. Her body was found in the water Monday afternoon. Holland America said Malkuch's death appeared to be a suicide, but Alaska State Troopers were to do their own investigation.
Andy Newman, Holland America Line / AP
Andy Newman, Holland America Line / AP
The passenger was identified as Amber Malkuch, 45, of Arlington, Wash., the U.S. Coast Guard said.
"They have confirmed that is the woman we're looking for due to finding her ID on her person," Petty Officer Jon-Paul Rios said.
Alaska State Troopers were to begin an investigation Tuesday when the cruise ship docked in Sitka. A spokeswoman said the agency was not ready to determine it was a suicide.
"We still have to do our investigation, and we're not going to make any guesses at this time," troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said. "It is too premature to label it anything but a death investigation." Suicide is "certainly a possibility, but we need to investigate and we need to make sure."
Among those who will be questioned will be Malkuch's traveling companion and anyone else who could help explain how she disappeared off the vessel.
Malkuch was reported missing by a traveling companion Monday morning when the Zaandam was in Glacier Bay National Park, about 75 miles northwest of Juneau. She was last seen hours earlier after she ordered room service, when the vessel was near Alaska's Douglas Island.
Malkuch's body was found Monday afternoon after a massive search stretching over 80 miles.
The body was taken to Juneau, and troopers said an autopsy would be standard procedure.
The crew of a commercial helicopter operated by Ketchikan-based TEMSCO Helicopters that was helping in the search found the body at about 4:30 p.m. Monday on the west side of Douglas Island, about 12 miles northwest of where the passenger was last seen, Chief Petty Officer Dana Warr said.
Warr said there was no immediate sign that any of the Zaandam's survival gear was missing. Footage from the ship's security cameras will likely be reviewed, the Coast Guard said.
The 780-foot-long Zaandam can carry about 1,430 passengers and 600 crew members.
Associated Press Writer Doug Esser in Seattle contributed to this report.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2009-08-03 17:44:21
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Jjgkemosabe

05:49 PMAug 04 2009

YEA, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO TO END IT ALL, JUMP OVER THE SIDE OF A CRUISE SHIP. I KNOW THAT THE FALL WON'T KILL ME AND THAT I'LL FLOAT AROUND IN THE WATER FOR MAYBE HOURS BEFORE THE COLD, HEAT, SHARKS OR MY STRENGTH GIVES OUT. YUP, THAT'S HOW I WANT TO GO.. WHEN YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS DO YOU BOTHER TO PACK FOR THE TRIP ?? CAN MY NEXT OF KIN ASK FOR A REFUND ??? CAN YOU ASK FOR A DOGGIE BAG WHEN YOUR HAVING YOUR LAST MEAL ON BOARD ?? AFTER ALL IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME BEFORE YOU GO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GLUMP... A PERSON GET HUNGRY, YA KNOW...

AVG RATING:
(2)

Jerseygirlbout

05:43 PMAug 04 2009

Wow what a way to go out!!!

AVG RATING:
(0)

JIMINBOXERS

05:38 PMAug 04 2009

It's sad to read some of these writings. This poor women could not find any way out but to jump off a ship. Think of the poor person she was with how they must have felt. it's no fun having someone take there life and you feel you could not help. it's always the way it is It's very sad. God bless her, her friends and family. Very sad

AVG RATING:
(4)

Camsurv

05:37 PMAug 04 2009

AnnaLRichard05:30 PMAug 04 2009NO CRUISE SHIPS FOR ME! TOO MANY WMEN BEING PUSHED OVERBOARD FOR THEIR LIFE INSURANCE BY STUPID HUSBANDS OR BOYFRIENDS. ...@@@Hey, Men die this way, too, sexist. ( Men who can Spell....lol)

AVG RATING:
(2)

Cloakndagger55

05:35 PMAug 04 2009

Holland America says it's a suicide. How do they figure? They just found the body and have not investigated or done the autopsy yet. A little premature I'd say. Holland motto: "Cover your a$$ early and often"

AVG RATING:
(4)

AnnaLRichard

05:30 PMAug 04 2009

NO CRUISE SHIPS FOR ME! TOO MANY WMEN BEING PUSHED OVERBOARD FOR THEIR LIFE INSURANCE BY STUPID HUSBANDS OR BOYFRIENDS. iF THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO SEE THE WORLD...THEN I WON'T SEE IT. NO BIG DEAL!

AVG RATING:
(2)

ClassicVW

05:30 PMAug 04 2009

We hear about this more and more not only because there are dozens of news channels and everyone has a cell phone, but because there are probably 10 times as many cruise ships today as there were 30 years ago. Used to be, only the wealthier people like business owners and above went on cruises. Now anybody can plunk down $500 and go. Plus there are many more ports from which they now sail, used to be if you lived on the east coast USA you HAD TO fly to Miami to sail. Now its Boston, NYC, Bayonne, Brooklyn, Baltimore, Ft Lauderdale, Miami, etc.

AVG RATING:
(3)

A 1 T MCC2

05:26 PMAug 04 2009

We went on a Holland America Cruise ship once...Everyone was about a 70 yrs old. Poor woman couldn't take it. I will never cruise with them again

AVG RATING:
(4)

Codycat3

05:16 PMAug 04 2009

All I know is, I'm never going on another cruise. Everytime those ships take a sharp turn I fall right over and get soaked. And it's not easy climbing back onboard either

AVG RATING:
(2)

Camsurv

05:02 PMAug 04 2009

seems to be a popular way to off a spouse these days....

AVG RATING:
(3)

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The Coast Guard has launched a massive search in frigid Alaska waters for a cruise ship passenger who is believed to have fallen overboard.