Tina White
Date: March 9, 2008
Cruise Bruise: Missing
Bruise Location: Off Florida Keys
Age: 39
Home Town: Bonita Springs, Florida
Cruise Line: Costa Cruises
Ship: Mediterranea
Details:
Tina White
Cruise Ship Passenger Disappeared Near Florida Keys
Costa Mediterranea - March 9, 2008
Tina White, age 39, has been reported missing while on a voyage aboard the Costa Cruises Mediterranea.
Ms White, was last seen aboard the ship about 0115 hours off the coast of the Florida Keys, about 20 miles southeast of Key Largo. She was traveling with her boyfriend, Andy Hopkins.
The Coast Guard Cutters Farallon and Confidence, a HH-65C Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Miami and a C-130 Hercules from Air Station Clearwater, Florida were dispatched to conduct the search.
Coast Guard crews searched a 3,000 square mile area with no sign of
Tina White.
The search was suspended at 1500 hours the next day.
Costa Mediterranea has a passenger capacity of 2,114 with a crew of 897. The ship is currently taking 7-day cruises into the Caribbean, departing from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The ship is in port at this moment.
I would like to make clear one fact in this case, that applies to many others. Cruise Bruise has come under fire for not reporting "facts" in the cases that the "mainstream media" report. This is because, until a full investigation is done, there is no way of knowing if a person fell into, was blown, pushed, tossed, thrown or jumped into the ocean.
Facts can and do vary depending on who tells the story, and we are not going to jump to conclusions, just because one person says the event unfolded in any particular way. We also are not going to attact the credibility of a witness, who is often also a victim.
When we have numerous persons aboard the ship who witness any event, or video footage to confirm a report, then we report those details. The same holds true for those alleged to be intoxicated or under the influence during an incident.
The exception to that rule is when the victim survives the incident, and comes forward to say they were under the influence, or when numerous witnesses come forward with evidence.
Cruise Bruise is careful not to jump to the conclusion that anyone is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Many medical conditions can mirror the apparent affects of alcohol intoxication, illegal drug use and even legal drug use. Short of the person admitting intoxication, only a physican can say for sure what substances in the blood stream may have contributed to the incident.
Even then, just because a person was intoxicated, does not mean they contributed to the event with anything they did, other than being intoxicated. Many crimes are committed against victims who's only mistake was to over-indulge, making them a prime target for a crime.
UPDATE: MARCH 11, 2007 0130 Hours
Some of Ms White's family members have come forward to question the account of her presumed death. They don't believe she jumped overboard. Under these circumstances, I can only hope there is some video of the incident that proves this case one way or another.
White's mother, Kathleen O'Hearn, said that she talked to her daughter's boyfriend, Andy Hopkins, after he returned home. "I spoke to him and he said he saw her go over the railing," O'Hearn said. The USCG also told her that her daughter and the man she sailed with were arguing when the incident took place.
White's brother, Toby McRory, 31, says he is not buying the account of the overboard. McRory says that his sister is afraid of both of water and heights, and would have not have 'jumped' overboard, nor even put herself at risk of 'falling' overboard.
Mr McRory said Tina White and Andy Hopkins had a "rocky relationship". "But my sister loved him because she kept going back to him," McRory said.
