Passenger Accused of Killing Wife on Cruise Ship

Man Arrested in US in connection with High Seas Killing.

US FBI agents aboard a U.S. Coast Guard cutter intercepted a Panamanian-flag cruise ship on July 16, and arrested Robert McGill for the murder of his wife, Shirley McGill. The arrest was executed under federal Title 18, USC Section 1111(b) - Murder within the Special Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction of the United States.

The FBI's San Diego group said a passenger contacted ship’s security who went to the cabin and found her body. The husband, Robert McGill, was immediately taken into custody in the ship’s brig until the vessel docked.

San Diego Coroner’s office determined Shirley McGill, 55, had been beaten and strangled and suffered blunt force injuries to the head and abdomen. An FBI Evidence Response Team met the ship in San Diego to collect evidence. Carnival Cruise Lines is said to be “providing full cooperation and support in this investigation.”

The 2,052 passenger ship was on a five-day cruise to Cabo, San Lucas and was in international waters at the time of the incident.