MURDER ON DEATH SHIP Wife killed on ‘mystery’ cruise
A HUSBAND beat his wife to death during a cruise ship murder mystery night because she “wouldn’t stop laughing at him”.
Kenneth Manzanares, 41, admitted repeatedly punching mum-of-three Kristy, 39, while holidaying with friends and family.
The Alaskan cruise had a murdermystery theme and staff thought the attack in the cabin had been staged when they were told to rush to the scene.
Manzanares pleaded guilty to seconddegree murder on Friday after changing his plea over the attack, in July 2017.
He had previously told police he snapped because his wife “would not stop laughing at me”.
A court in Alaska heard that on the night of the killing, the couple had argued and Mrs Manzanares, who worked as an estate agent, had announced she wanted a divorce.
Manzanares, of Utah, then told their adult daughter and a child to leave the cabin. They desperately tried to get back in when they heard screams.
Documents showed Manzanares admitted hitting his wife “once with a closed fist, seeing blood and striking another time, and stated he had no memory after that point”.
From a balcony, witnesses saw
Manzanares on top of his wife hitting her, and then attempting to throw her over the cabin’s balcony.
An autopsy found Mrs Manzanares was killed by blunt force trauma to the head and face.
Passenger Megan Morr recalled: “People were running with blood all over them and trying to get security.”
She added the captain was “very worked up” and announced to staff: “We need all medical, security, all personnel to deck nine and deck 14”.
The cruise had begun in Seattle, Washington, with 3,400 people on board.
Manzanares will be sentenced in May.