Dominican Republic - American tourists found dead in resorts, same cause of death, 2018/2019

[Not In My Backyard]

Two random thoughts. Tampering with liquor seems like a good start. So since the NY post seemed to go down and look at the liquor, how come they didn’t sneak a sample home in a mouth wash bottle or something? (Apology if I missed that In the article)

Secondly. Here is an unlucky and tv like scenario. Joe at the DR bottling plant tops up the alcohol going to resorts with something to turn a better profit. Well Martin, the bartender at one of these resorts does not know joe is doing this- and he skins some alcohol off the top and adds more of the whatever substance. Effextively doubling the toxicity.

All I do know is I am not going to vacation in DR

 

[kay74]

Yes, adulterated alcohol or pesticides. I'd say it's the alcohol. I wonder if it's a bunch of people there that got together to do this with alcohol? It's happened at I think 3 different resorts.

 

[Inthedetails]

https://nypost.com/2019/06/17/more-...dominican-republic-like-man-foaming-at-mouth/

"More information is coming out about tourists who have mysteriously died in the Dominican Republic, including a New Jersey resident who suddenly fell ill last week — and an Arizona man who had 'something green' foaming from his mouth following his death, a report says....

Hulburt Sr.’s cause of death was listed as a heart attack, but his family now suspects that something else is to blame following the recent reports of other tourists dying under strange circumstances and similar conditions....

Jersey resident Joseph Allen, 55, of Woodbridge, was feeling hot and sick before he suddenly died overnight last week."

 

[mickey2942]

Resort: Another American tourist died in Dominican Republic
Wait for it...another HEART ATTACK! Of course.

 

[Inthedetails]

RBBM
Per the article you linked, 14 million Americans have visited the DR since 2012. 128 have died. Do the math.

Now, I might not be willing to take my chances by staying at these two brands (Bahia Principe and Hard Rock) right now, but statistically, this may be a case of the media whipping people into a frenzy. IMO.

There is more info about those stats, bbm

"From 2012 to December 2018, 128 Americans have died there, according to statistics available on the US Department of State website . The statistics, which do not cover deaths from natural causes, include drownings, homicides, suicides, vehicle and other accidents."

I am guessing the heart attacks and other illnesses we are seeing in recent reports would fall under "natural causes" at this point and are not included in the stat quoted.

jmo

 

[margarita25]

https://nypost.com/2019/06/17/more-...dominican-republic-like-man-foaming-at-mouth/

"More information is coming out about tourists who have mysteriously died in the Dominican Republic, including a New Jersey resident who suddenly fell ill last week — and an Arizona man who had 'something green' foaming from his mouth following his death, a report says....

Hulburt Sr.’s cause of death was listed as a heart attack, but his family now suspects that something else is to blame following the recent reports of other tourists dying under strange circumstances and similar conditions....

Jersey resident Joseph Allen, 55, of Woodbridge, was feeling hot and sick before he suddenly died overnight last week."

Omgggg!!
Wth is going on!?!?!!!

 

[Gunslinging Granny]

Several days ago I read on article on how the DR government shut down three bootleg alcohol distilleries in 2017. I can't find that article now.

 

[Gunslinging Granny]

Senior trip to DR ends with many hospitalized.
https://nypost.com/2019/06/17/senio...descends-into-disaster-after-group-falls-ill/

 

[margarita25]

In your opinions folks, is there a SK operating?

 

[margarita25]

Senior trip to DR ends with many hospitalized.
https://nypost.com/2019/06/17/senio...descends-into-disaster-after-group-falls-ill/

“The recent Deer Creek High School graduates flew on June 8 to the embattled Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana, where at least two Americans have died and others have fallen ill, news station KOTV reported.”

Snip

“We just don’t know what is happening,” McLaughlin told the news station. “Is it the water? Is it the ice? Is it the food? Is it the food handling? Is it the pesticides?”

For the first day, the teens enjoyed themselves hanging out on the beach. But after dining at the resort’s Japanese restaurant, the trip took a turn for the worse, according to KOCO.

“I just woke up, and my stomach was cramping and I was sweating,” Bennet Hill told KOCO. “I was freezing.”

-more at link including a statement from the resort.

—-
ETA:
Sorry I’m behind and going back to read now from page one. Maybe you guys have discussed this already, but could there somehow maybe be a link via the Casino? Are there Casinos at the other resorts? I know the high school students would be too young to gamble, but maybe that’s how the person is getting access, if it IS a person(s)...? Just a thought.

 

[Inthedetails]

In your opinions folks, is there a SK operating?

No. I do not think it is a serial killer. I think resorts are buying bootleg alcohol because it's cheaper and it's a place without regulations/enforcement. Perhaps there are other things going on, but I bet most of this is bad booze. Plus poor health care (just a guess...not sure what the remedy is for the tainted alcohol).

jmo

 

[margarita25]

No. I do not think it is a serial killer. I think resorts are buying bootleg alcohol because it's cheaper and it's a place without regulations/enforcement. Perhaps there are other things going on, but I bet most of this is bad booze. Plus poor health care (just a guess...not sure what the remedy is for the tainted alcohol).

jmo

(Thank you for your response, I’m way behind and going back to familiarize myself more with the details. )

ETA: @Inthedetails, but what about these new illnesses of the high school students IF this is related.....did the students have any alcohol? Or just had “bad fish” or something else at the restaurant?

Maybe this is something like the norovirus that happens on cruise ships? Could it be surface contamination? Again just a thought. Behind, sorry if this is a stupid question.

Do we know if any of the guests stayed in the same room? Who all ordered what specific items in the restaurant and /or room service? Did they all have water and ice? Is this only tourists? I know you guys have been here for a while and I’m sure many of my questions will be answered if I just be quiet and go back and read...

 

[diggndeeperstill]

Several days ago I read on article on how the DR government shut down three bootleg alcohol distilleries in 2017. I can't find that article now.

Here is one reference to it.
“Dominican police dismantled five labs used for tainted alcohol production just two years ago.”
Dominican Republic deaths: FBI close to identifying cause of mystery Caribbean deaths - The Us Posts

And the original article appears to be this one. I unfortunately can’t read it. La Policía desmantela laboratorio clandestino de falsificación bebidas alcohólicas

“The recent Deer Creek High School graduates flew on June 8 to the embattled Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana, where at least two Americans have died and others have fallen ill, news station KOTV reported.”

Snip

“We just don’t know what is happening,” McLaughlin told the news station. “Is it the water? Is it the ice? Is it the food? Is it the food handling? Is it the pesticides?”

For the first day, the teens enjoyed themselves hanging out on the beach. But after dining at the resort’s Japanese restaurant, the trip took a turn for the worse, according to KOCO.

“I just woke up, and my stomach was cramping and I was sweating,” Bennet Hill told KOCO. “I was freezing.”

-more at link including a statement from the resort.

—-
ETA:
Sorry I’m behind and going back to read now from page one. Maybe you guys have discussed this already, but could there somehow maybe be a link via the Casino? Are there Casinos at the other resorts? I know the high school students would be too young to gamble, but maybe that’s how the person is getting access, if it IS a person(s)...? Just a thought.

This was discussed a few pages back.

 

[margarita25]

Here is one reference to it.
“Dominican police dismantled five labs used for tainted alcohol production just two years ago.”
Dominican Republic deaths: FBI close to identifying cause of mystery Caribbean deaths - The Us Posts

And the original article appears to be this one. I unfortunately can’t read it. La Policía desmantela laboratorio clandestino de falsificación bebidas alcohólicas


This was discussed a few pages back.

(Thank you Reading now! )

 

[dotr]

A couple of hotel poisonings that have been investigated in the past, fwiw.
22 People Accidentally Poisoned by Bad Mix of Chemicals in a Disneyland Paris Resort Pool
August 21, 2018
"Guests and staff at the New York Hotel at Disneyland Paris were accidentally poisoned by a mix-up of chemicals in a swimming pool on Friday."

Hotel bar staff poisoned with polonium-210
Dec 2006
"Health officials say they are anxious to test around 250 people who went into the bar of the London hotel where the Russian ex-spy is thought to have been exposed to a massive dose of the toxic isotope on November 1.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) also wants to track down and test hundreds more guests who drank in the Pine Bar of the Millennium Hotel on the days either side of the attack."

 

[Inthedetails]

(Thank you for your response, I’m way behind and going back to familiarize myself more with the details. )

ETA: @Inthedetails, but what about these new illnesses of the high school students IF this is related.....did the students have any alcohol? Or just had “bad fish” or something else at the restaurant?

Maybe this is something like the norovirus that happens on cruise ships? Could it be surface contamination? Again just a thought. Behind, sorry if this is a stupid question.

Do we know if any of the guests stayed in the same room? Who all ordered what specific items in the restaurant and /or room service? Did they all have water and ice? Is this only tourists? I know you guys have been here for a while and I’m sure many of my questions will be answered if I just be quiet and go back and read...

The high school kids were likely drinking. The drinking age in the DR is 18.

jmo

 

[LadyL]

hasn't a Japanese restaurant in a resort been mentioned more than once?

 

[Dre]

Dominican Republic deaths: FBI close to identifying cause of mystery Caribbean deaths - The Us Posts
“Now, a forensic science expert has claimed that the minibar drinks had been tampered with – perhaps deliberately.

Professor Lawrence Kobilinsky told the New York Post: “Adulterated alcohol is usually methanol added to alcohol or just plain methanol, which is very, very toxic.

“It looks to me, from what I’ve heard and read, is that something was added to the drinks or bottles in those little refrigerators.’”

 

[NervousNellie]

Well you also have to take into account the number of people that have fallen ill there, and not died. That is a number we really have no idea what it is. The concern I think is the number of deaths/illnesses in a relatively short period of time in a couple of specific places. If this is bad booze or illegal pesticides, the use may be on the increase and needs to be addressed. And I am afraid that without media attention and consumer pressure, there won't be any real investigation and corrections. If it is brought out in the light and not covered up, it provides disincentive to others doing it in the future.

I agree with everything you’ve said.

There is more info about those stats, bbm

"From 2012 to December 2018, 128 Americans have died there, according to statistics available on the US Department of State website . The statistics, which do not cover deaths from natural causes, include drownings, homicides, suicides, vehicle and other accidents."

I am guessing the heart attacks and other illnesses we are seeing in recent reports would fall under "natural causes" at this point and are not included in the stat quoted.

jmo

I did miss that. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

In your opinions folks, is there a SK operating?

It certainly would be easily possible. Imo.

I'd like to know if any employees were working at all of the affected resorts during the times in question. Those who may have been fired at one then was hired by another one?

Did they resent tourists from other countries coming to enjoy everything when the employee/s couldn't ever afford such luxury?

Another thing I don't understand is how they are legally able to use trademark liquor bottles to put their own bootlegged liquor in?

Doesn't the DR have any rules or regulations governing something like this from happening?

Can the name brand liquor companies sue them? It is such a deception trying to make the tourists believe they are getting top brand expensive liquor when its really rot gut liquor instead.

The DR deserves every bit of negative publicity they are receiving.

Hitting them in the pocket where it hurts is the only thing that will bring about change.

It seems all they really care about is the almighty dollar anyway, and the safety, and wellbeing of the tourists be damned.

Jmho