Man kills wife on Alaska cruise: FBI
Says she laughed at him; ship to dock Saturday at Ogden Point
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A Utah man killed his wife aboard an Alaska cruise and told an acquaintance who later walked into the couple’s blood-splattered room that he did it because she laughed at him, the FBI said in documents released Thursday.
Kenneth Manzanares of Santa Clara, Utah, was charged with murder after he was found with blood on his hands and clothes, and with blood spread throughout the cabin on the Princess Cruises ship Tuesday night, according to a criminal complaint by FBI Special Agent Michael Watson.
Kristy Manzanares, 39, had a severe head wound, but authorities have declined to release other details in the case, including how many people were travelling with the couple on the 3,400-passenger Emerald Princess that left Sunday from Seattle.
The ship is scheduled to dock at Ogden Point in Victoria on Saturday evening on its return voyage to Seattle.
Several people went into the room before medical workers and security officers arrived and saw the woman on the floor covered in blood, according to court documents.
A man asked Manzanares what happened, and the suspect said: “She would not stop laughing at me,” according to the FBI complaint.
Manzanares then grabbed his wife’s body and tried to drag her to the balcony, but the man stopped him, the FBI said. The name of the man was not included in the complaint.
A ship security officer handcuffed Manzanares, who was held in a nearby cabin, authorities said.
While the FBI searched him, Manzanares said, “My life is over,” the complaint states.
Manzanares, 39, participated in his first court appearance on Thursday by teleconference from Juneau, where he is in custody.
He appeared to be crying at times before the hearing and near the start, when U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin F. McCoy began speaking.
Manzanares dabbed at his eyes and nose with tissues.
He was wearing an orange jumpsuit during the proceedings. He had his ankles shackled and was wearing slip-on shoes.
McCoy appointed assistant federal defender Jamie McGrady to represent Manzanares. Bail has not been set and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for Aug. 10.
Manzanares has no criminal history, according to online Utah court records.
Kristy Manzanares was a trusted adviser and valued sales associate, her employer said in a statement.
“Kristy was a dedicated and loving mother who juggled her business schedule to make her children the top priority,” said the statement from Summit Sotheby’s International Realty in St. George, Utah.
The ship was diverted to Juneau because of the investigation, which the FBI is leading because the death occurred in U.S. waters.
The ship docked Wednesday and passengers were kept on board for hours before it departed late that night for the town of Skagway.
Princess Cruises said passengers will receive $150 US onboard credit because of the effect on their vacations.