A tragic event unfolded aboard the Carnival Dream cruise ship, which has sparked an FBI investigation into the death of a Texas man. Euvelester Villarreal Jr., age 48 from Rio Grande City, was pronounced dead in the early hours of July 23, with the Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office reporting no visible signs of trauma. KHOU 11 News obtained a statement from Carnival, clarifying that their internal investigation suggested the guest died of natural causes. The medical examiner is pending toxicology results to determine the precise cause of death.
In a statement obtained by ValleyCentral, Carnival expressed they will "defer to the FBI on its investigation." This investigation falls under standard practices, as the FBI typically reviews deaths that take place on cruise ships. Passengers detailed waking up to the sound of emergency alarms sounding over the ship's speaker system, indicating a medical situation that occurred on the Serenity Deck, an adults-only area of the ship.
According to ValleyCentral, the FBI considers the jurisdiction of crimes on cruise ships to be complex due to registration in one country, travel through international waters, and the diversity of crew and passengers. Under the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) of 2010, cruise ship incidents of this nature must be reported directly to the FBI.
As passengers disembarked in Galveston, their arrival back on land was delayed by two hours to allow law enforcement to board the ship and attend to the body, which was seen being transported off the ship by ambulance. Leaving behind a grieving family, Villarreal’s wife, in a conversation with KHOU 11, honored her late husband as a kind, humble, and loving man dedicated to his family, alluding to the untimely nature of his passing.
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