Body Found After Plunge From Ship
The body of a cruise ship passenger was retrieved off the Orange County coast early Saturday, more than two hours after the woman was seen falling into the water.
An autopsy conducted Saturday morning did not reveal the cause of death, and further tests, including toxicology reports, were pending, said Rod Thomas, supervising deputy coroner in the Orange County coroner’s office.
The identity of the victim was not immediately known and investigators were awaiting a fingerprint check Monday, he said.
“We have no idea whether it was an accidental fall or a homicide or if it was a suicide,” Thomas said.
The Carnival cruise ship Holiday, sailing from Los Angeles to Ensenada, issued a “man overboard” call at 11:05 p.m. Friday, said Lt. Chris Graff of the California Department of Fish and Game. Graff’s patrol boat and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter rushed to the scene. Cruise ship crew members in two lifeboats searched the waters. The woman’s body was found in the water at 1:30 a.m. and taken to Dana Point.
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