American tourists found dead in Dominican Republic hotel

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Written by Linda Hohnholz

An American couple from Prince George’s County in Maryland vacationing in the Dominican Republic were found dead in their hotel room. According to police, the bodies of Edward Nathael Holmes (63) and Cynthis Ann Day (49) were found at the Playa Nueva Romana resort in San Pedro de Macrois.

The couple had arrived just a few days prior on Saturday, May 25, and were due to check out from the hotel on Thursday, May 30. When they missed their check-out time, hotel staff entered the room after nobody answered the door and found both unresponsive. The staff then notified authorities.

Although their bodies did not show any signs of violence, their deaths were considered suspicious, because Holmes had complained of a pain on Thursday, but when a doctor arrived to check on him, he refused to be seen by the practitioner. Authorities said there were several bottles of medicine used to treat high blood pressure in the couple’s room, but no other drugs were found.

The cause of death was determined by autopsies performed at the Regional Institute of Forensic Sciences, police said. It has so far been determined that the couple died of respiratory failure and pulmonary edema. It is not yet known how both the man and woman had died at the same time. Officials are awaiting on results of toxicology and histopathology tests.

“We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss,” a U.S. Department of State official said. “We are in close contact with local authorities regarding their investigation into the cause of death. We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance. The U.S. Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad have no greater responsibility than the protection of U.S. citizens overseas. Out of respect to the family during this difficult time, we have no further comment.”

The hotel said in a statement that it is “deeply saddened by the incident.”

At another hotel in the Dominican Republic, five days prior on May 25, a Pennsylvania woman, Miranda Schaup-Werner (41), a psychotherapist from Allentown, Pennsylvania,  who was vacationing with her husband died suddenly in her room after having a drink from the room’s mini-bar.

The news of these deaths comes days after a Delaware woman described how she was brutally attacked by a man at her resort in Punta Cana six months ago.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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