Politics As Usual
Shining a Light on Power and Policy
Tom Shine covers congressional politics for ABC News.
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Nightmare on the Caribbean
March 27, 2007 10:56 AM
"I REALLY WANT TO NAIL THIS WOMAN..."
36 year old laurie dishman decided it was time to take a cruise with her best friend of 30 years, michelle and celebrate her birthday aboard a royal caribbean ship headed to the mexican riviera.
what should have been fun and a celebration turned to horror on february 21 of last year.
"on february 21, 2006, A ROYAL CARRIBBEAN SECURITY GUARD RAPED ME IN MY CABIN," dishman told Congress Tuesday.
"i woke up with soreness around my neck and throat. to my horror, there were ligature marks on my neck. my tampon was impacted into me during the rape while i was unconscious. i felt humiliated. i could not believe what had happened."
according to dishman, the person who raped her was a JANITOR filling in as a security guard because the cruise line was short of help.
laurie and her friend michelle at first were afraid to tell the ship's security, since it was a security guard who had committed the crime. when security did come to the cabin, they kept her there filling out forms before allowing her to see the ship's doctor several hours later.
the ship's doctor told laurie and her friend "TO TAKE TWO GARBAGE BAGS AND GO BACK TO THE CABIN AND COLLECT EVIDENCE OF THE RAPE."
"we tried to preserve hair and other evidence by carefully folding the sheets and the pillow case and placing them in the bags. IT WAS HORRIBLE TO DO THIS. michelle and i felt HUMILIATED CARRYING THE BAGS IN THE PUBLIC HALLWAYS AND INTO THE ELEVATOR AS THE SECURITY OFFICERS WATCHED US."
a couple days later the FBI interviewed both women and sent 10 agents to the ship to investigate. but the FBI told dishman there was not enough evidence to prosecute--that it was a "HE SAID/SHE SAID" case.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN offered a settlement provided laurie sign a confidentiality agreement. she declined. instead laurie has confronted members of congress, gone to the press and proceeded with a civil lawsuit.
this has all angered ROYAL CARIBBEAN and a cruise newspaper called CRUISE NEWS DAILY which has apparently made fun of her case. in an e-mail between the newspaper and the cruise line, CRUISE NEWS DAILY says, "I REALLY WANT TO NAIL THIS WOMAN and the ICV, (INTERNATIONAL CRUISE VICTIMS.)"
ROYAL CARIBBEAN REPLIES: "LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!"
after the rape laurie received this e-mail from the marketing department of ROYAL CARIBBEAN:
"...the great thing about a Royal Caribbean cruise is that no two days are ever alike. IT'S A NEW ADVENTURE EVERY DAY...you can expect JUST AS MANY MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES ON YOUR NEXT ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE VACATION."
March 27, 2007 in Weblogs | Permalink | User Comments (8)
Nail the cruise line! This is unreal! I hate to say but when I was on a cruise back in 1992 I experienced less than professional behavior, but NOTHING like this. You go on a vacation to relax and be care free. It seems that this is the last thing you would expect. I know I have changed my plans to go on a cruise until something changes. I'd really like to go too, but until steps are completed to make the trip safer, FORGET IT! Laurie, you have my support and prayers, I don't know if I could be strong enough to speak out on behalf of all the victums out there. You go girl! I'll be looking for further stories on ways to help your (our) cause. Keeping fighting the good fight. The people in D.C. have wives, mothers and daughters too. I hope they realize they are not exempt from these horrors, remind them please.
Blesings,
Shannon
Folsom, CA
Posted by: Shannon | Mar 27, 2007 12:13:36 PM
I watched this story on the news and can say that I honestly do not beleive the alleged victim. Watching her talk and the interview with the FBI agent gave me the impression that this was a woman looking for attention, or else charges would be filed. The FBI gave me the impression that the interviews concluded other than what you reported. Rape kits are done on victims which provide DNA evidence. The FBI would have done this. A lot of people don't realize that a lot of reported rapes actually do not occur. I am not saying that it never happens, but working in the law enforcement field, people would really be surprised at the amount of people that make these kinds of stories up. Again, I am talking from personal experience, not a bias. If you talked with a victims advocate that has assisted rape victims, they would agree.
Posted by: JOHN | Mar 28, 2007 10:27:14 AM
I feel for any one that has been violated, in any way. I have a question though...why would this just now come to light? Anything negative about any cruise line seems to appear almost immediately. Why a year later? Also, if she woke from an unconcious state, how is she sure of who the evil person was that did this? It isn't clear by the above article that she has any proof at all that it was a security guard that is responsible. In this particular situation, at least outlined in the above article, there are just too many questions.
Posted by: Anne | Mar 28, 2007 5:20:52 PM
JOHN - there has never been a Royal Caribbean crew member convicted of a sex attack in the history of the cruise line back to the 1960's, because the cruise line covers up the crime scene at sea. Actually, why bother to destroy evidence? The FBI is indifferent to crimes against women at sea.
Posted by: Judy | Mar 28, 2007 9:15:58 PM
The lack of policing for the use of illegal drugs and excessive drinking contributed to the sexual assault and death of Diane Brimble.
Danger on the HIGH Seas: Royal Caribbean "Booze Cruise" Caught on Tape.
Most of them were not so lucky. They drowned and the un-regulated security and safety practices of the cruise lines were part of the problem. So much so that congress has held three hearings in the last year or so. The last one being March 27, 2007. In addition, Senator McCain warned the international cruise lines as far back as 1999 that they needed to start following international and other laws.
Being un-regulated, we have no figures at all on the number of crewmembers that have died. It gets worse every year, and 2006 was the worst with 22 passengers overboard.
Posted by: safe cruise | Apr 1, 2007 2:31:48 PM
When the cruise lines get nailed in the pocketbook, where it hurts the most, then perhaps they will begin to take security on the "high seas" more seriously. My prayers are with you, Laurie. It's simply unbelieveable what you've had to endure.
Posted by: Sarah | Apr 4, 2007 2:23:54 PM
How does the original poster know about correspondence between Cruise news Daily and the Cruise Line? Is this a news story, or what? (I am just confused). FWIW, I talked to the new head of security at Royal Caribbean and he told in this case the doctor had made a large procedural error in asking the victim to gather up evidence. Theonly time a doctor is supposed to take any evidence is when it is the clothes the assault occured with. otherwise, the new protocol is to seal the room where the clothese are for the FBI to investigate later.
I have little knowledge of this case. It never really "added up" to me that she claims to have been raped by someone when she was asleep in her locked cabin, and she doesn't even really remember the event. oh well, no judgements here, let's just see what happens.
Posted by: cruisemates | May 22, 2007 9:45:11 AM
This sounds very similar to a scam that was perpetrated at Disney World a few years ago. Someone staying at a Disney hotel claimed to have been raped, then sued Disney. It turned out she was a member of the "travelers" gang/crime-family, and it was her own brother that beat her up.
Posted by: Ed | Jan 22, 2008 11:33:24 PM
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