Investigation continues into cruise ship murder of Kristy Manzanares
Because the bludgeoning murder of 39-year-old Kristy Manzanares took place in international waters, the FBI is actively investigating her homicide. Kristy was killed during a July 25 cruise aboard the Emerald Princess. The ship was en-route to Alaska while Kristy was on an anniversary celebration with her husband.
Kristy’s husband, Kenneth Ray Manzanares, 39, has been charged with his wife’s murder. The FBI described Kristy’s murder as resulting from a domestic dispute. The couple’s three teenage daughters were also on board the Emerald Princess for what was supposed to be a fun-filled family getaway for the Utah family, according to Aol.com.
Witnesses aboard the cruise ship told investigators that they heard scream’s coming from the family’s cabin and saw the husband dragging Kristy’s body toward the ship’s balcony. Witnesses then say that Manzanares dragged Kristy back into their cabin by her ankles, according to a July 27 statement released by the District of Alaska U.S. Attorney’s Office. Witnesses also said they could see blood on Manzanares’ hands and clothing.
When ship’s security personnel arrived at the scene, they managed to handcuff the husband as he threatened to jump over the ship’s railing. After he was restrained, one witness was quoted by Yahoo! News as saying that the husband said, “She would not stop laughing at me. My life is over.” Another witness shared the story of one of the couple’s daughters looking distraught and appearing to be really scared following the incident. According to that witness, the young girl was saying, ‘I just want to go and see my mom! I just want to see my mom! What’s happening?”
The ship was half-way through a seven-day Alaska cruise at the time of the incident. When the ship’s security personnel arrived at the scene, they entered the cabin and restrained the husband, handcuffing him and placing him in an adjoining cabin. One of the security officers stated that after entering the cabin, he could see Kristy lying on the floor and that she was covered in blood. The ship’s medical personnel were also on the scene along with security and stated that Kristy “had a severe head wound and blood was spread throughout the room on multiple surfaces,” according to the complaint filed by FBI. Kristy Manzanares was pronounced dead at approximately 9:20 p.m. by the ship’s medical staff.
Fox 13 reported an FBI agent’s investigation into the case as stating that Kenneth Manzanares, with blood on his hands and clothing, told a witness on the scene that he bludgeoned his wife because, “She would not stop laughing at me,” according to a search warrant affidavit. On July 27, Manzanares was charged with Kristy’s murder in an Anchorage courtroom. Manzanares, currently being detained in Juneau, appeared in court via video teleconference. Manzanares has been appointed a public defender.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt stated that Manzanares is looking at a maximum penalty of life in prison or the death penalty, and a maximum fine of $250,000, according to The Alaska Dispatch News. Manzanares will remain incarcerated in the Lemon Creek Correctional Center in Juneau until the case against him is resolved. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 10. A Gofundme page with a goal of raising $50,000 has been established in the names of Kristy’s three daughters. The profile message on that page states:
Kristy was a smart, kind, beautiful woman that had so much to live for. She had three beautiful daughters that she loved more than anything. Everything she did was for the girls. She wanted so much for them and was only concerned with their happiness. Kristy was always thoughtful and was loved by so many. Her children loved her more than anything, she meant the world to them. She was a hard worker who who made her busy schedule work around the needs of her girls. Kristy’s life was tragically taken July 25, 2017. Kristy’s life was taken from her while on a cruise in Alaska Please help the family with expenses and to help her 3 beautiful children.
Written by: Ace News Today Staff
