Woman murdered by husband during murder mystery dinner cruise
39-year-old Kristy Manzanares was killed by her husband Kenneth Manzanares during a week-long cruise.
Kristy was on a holiday with her husband of 17 years and their three daughters, when she was found murdered in her cabin on Tuesday night.
A statement from her loved ones described her as “a devoted mother, daughter, sister and friend”.
It said, “Kristy led by example with her giving heart and we are inspired by the legacy of kindness and optimism she has instilled in her children.”
Her husband, Kenneth Manzanares, was arrested and charged with her murder. Authorities say that he killed his wife on board the Emerald Princess because she “wouldn’t stop laughing at him”.
The ship’s security found Kristy in her cabin at 9 pm with a severe head wound and she was pronounced dead 20 minutes later.
Ship staff have said that Kenneth had attempted to throw her body overboard.
The cruise’s theme was murder mystery and staff initially believed the scene had been staged to fit in with the theme.
At 9 pm on Tuesday night, the captain sent a message on the intercom ordering security to go to the ninth floor, where the couple were staying.
Once security reached the couple’s cabin, they found a bloody scene and Kristy’s body.
Kenneth Manzanares was charged on Thursday after being taken in to the custody of Alaskan authorities on Wednesday morning after the ship docked in Alaska.
According to police, during questioning he said, “My life is over.”
Cruise passengers who were on the same floor as the family explained that they saw a child sitting on an older woman’s lap sobbing.
“I see this little girl sitting on – I assume – her grandma or somebody, sitting on her lap wrapped in a blanket. And she's just sobbing,” Brian Eckstorm told KTUU.
“A man came walking out from the hallway where it happened and he had, like, a white tank top on, and some jeans.”
“His jeans were completely covered in blood and he came out saying, 'It's not good, it's not good',” he added.
Kristy worked as a real estate agent with Sotheby’s in St George, Utah.
Her profile on the Summit Sotheby’s International realty site reads, “In her spare time, Kristy enjoys volunteering at local schools and is involved in the Jubilee of Trees as Tree Designer each year.”
“She loves cheering on her daughters at soccer games, spending time with extended family and is currently learning how to play golf with her husband.”
Passengers were kept aboard the ship for eight hours after being diverted to Juneau because of the investigation.
Travellers in rooms on the post side of decks 8, 9 and 10 were instructed to return to their cabins during the day so they could be interviewed by investigators.
Other passengers were able to move around the ship during lockdown.
No further schedule changes were expected for the cruise ship.