In the past year, at least nine people have died at Dominican Republic resorts and dozens have become ill. Although investigators aren’t releasing much information, there is speculation that the deaths could be linked to tainted alcohol.
People reports:
The FBI and CDC have confirmed it is investigating the deaths of at least six of the tourists who have died since the summer of 2018. Some of them passed away in what appear to be bizarre — and similar — circumstances. The agencies are not yet releasing further details about the investigations.
“It’s definitely very strange,” Reynold A. Panettieri Jr., a physician at Rutgers who specializes in toxicology, tells PEOPLE. “Healthy people don’t just die. And the couple dying at the same time certainly tips us off that something is very wrong.”
Three of the victims — Robert Wallace, Miranda Schaup-Werner and Monique Sport — had a drink from their hotel minibar before falling ill, leading many people to believe that tainted alcohol could be the culprit. Panettieri says that’s a plausible theory.
“It is possible for drinks from the minibar to contain a toxin,” he tells PEOPLE, “so if that’s the common denominator, that’s always a possibility.”
The New York Post reports investigators in the Dominican Republic are investigating whether counterfeit alcohol has played a role in some deaths.
The report says authorities are investigating who supplied the alcohol the victims drank before they died, and if the drinks had any toxic chemicals in them. A source told the Post the FBI is assisting and will take blood samples from the victims back to its research center in Quantico, Virginia.
Currently, the CDC and the FBI are investigating four deaths at various Grand Bahia Principe properties: Nathaniel Edward Holmes, 63, and Cynthia Ann Day, 49, were found dead in their hotel room May 30 at the Bahia Principle La Romana.
Five days earlier, Miranda Schaup-Werner, 41, collapsed shortly after mixing a drink from the minibar in the Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville in La Romana.
Last year, Pennsylvania native Yvette Monique Sport, 51, collapsed at the Bahia Príncipe resort in Punta Cana.
Additionally, authorities are investigating the deaths of two Americans at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana. David Harrison, 45, died in July 2018.
Robert Bell Wallace, 67, died last April.
“This will be a long investigation,” Panettieri tells PEOPLE. “But they’ll figure it out.”
If this information isn’t enough, check out the video of a woman testing out the alcohol in the DR.
The Dominican Republic is a beautiful destination but tourist would like to be safe while enjoying their vacation. Could it be the alcohol? Would you still visit the DR? Leave us a comment below and let us know what you think.
