The strange case of George Smith IV [True Crime]

In the early morning hours of July 5th, 2005, while cruising across the Aegean Sea from the Greek Island of Mykonos, 26-year-old newlywed George Smith IV went missing.

There were signs that George had been partying heavily the night before - maybe this was a tragic accident? There were also clues that pointed to foul play. All signs indicated that George had gone overboard…

There have been many theories put forward in the case. Was this an accident, a robbery, a murder?

Speculation over the years has centered squarely on a group of men dubbed by the media as 'the Russians'. What really happened that night in cabin 9062?

Theme music by Audio Hertz, Luck Witch via YouTube music

[mssdn]

Detective work 101, keep all suspects separate when questioning them, so they don’t know what the other suspects have said

[juliemcmahon]

The heartless men who were recorded saying they gave George a gliding lesson without the glider obviously threw him overboard while he was alive, presumably covering the robbery. How horrific.

[johnnywalker]

Investigation was botched as soon as they conducted a 'group interview' with those young guys early on instead of interviewing each separately. Had they interviewed them separately, they could have put to use very effective interview tactics that are designed to play them against each other until someone confesses either out of fear of being blamed or the fear of taking the fall for everyone else involved. This case is an eye opener for people who board cruise ships.

[nessapalmer]

When the Russians said "end of story" repeatedly in that first interview is all I needed to hear.

[suerichards]

Nothing good ever comes from getting so drunk you can’t remember what you’re doing!

[AVSgirl]

It would be devastating to lose a child and never know exactly how, or where they are... so sad for the parents and sister 😢

[Razorfendown]

Live a defensive life. Avoid friends or situations that would end up complicating your lives. Don't drink to the point you lose self-control. Especially around strangers.

[maryannanderson]

I have no idea what happened to George but I must say that the thought of having a honeymoon where the husband and wife pretty much go their separate ways is not my idea of a honeymoon. If they preferred the company of other people, why on earth did they get married? When I got married, 976 years ago, I really wanted to spend my honeymoon with my husband. But maybe that's just me.

[JosephKulik]

Few people realize how dangerous cruise ships are. MANY people go "missing" on cruises with no seeming explanation. A couple of years ago, 60 Minutes Australia did an expose of the Cruise Line Business. They discovered that on average one passenger per month "disappears" from a cruise ship somewhere in the World. They interviewed the former Chief Security Officer of a Cruise Line incognito who said that when you put a 1000 people on a boat in the middle of the ocean with an unlimited supply of alcohol, lots of Bad Things will inevitably happen. Many tourists fall overboard while drunk simply because walkways are narrow and they have no "sea legs". He said that assaults and rapes are common, and that some ship personnel even rape women passengers in their rooms. He said that much of this is hushed up with Pay Off money by the Cruise Line itself.

The TRUTH about Smith's "disappearance" will never be known simply because it appears that Everyone involved was TOO Drunk to even remember The TRUTH. In other words, they were typical Cruise Line passengers.

I've always thought of Cruise Ship vacations as being Absurd myself. I call them "Boat Rides to Nowhere" because most cruises end at the port where they begin. Somehow, being drunk 24/7 while stuck on a ship full of strangers never sounded like fun to me.

[awakeningwithannie]

The fact she was at the massage at 8am not knowing where he was and the room looking like that is WILD. She didn't see the blood????

[Angrycomments]

"we gave him a paragliding lesson without a glider" is enough of a statement to arrest and charge that guy. End of story.

[ElaAusDemTal]

I wonder if Jennifer noticed how messy the cabin looked when she got up! If you left your room in a tidy state, shouldn't you be worried if a) the place is a mess and b) your husband isn't there?

[PerfectTimingProductions]

Sure seems like those 3 guys threw him out the window to me…

[shirleytemple]

I enjoy the way you present the information in each case and I respect your unbiased delivery. Thank you.

[lorieromano]

I was really surprised to hear the widow moved on, got remarried and has a family... NOT... I think she started the moving on process on the honeymoon

[frankenoise]

So weird that these two go on Honeymoon to only sleep in different cabins, get wasted, and/or pass out drunk in a hallway. Call me old fashion but that doesn't sound like fun to me.

[DMR]

Whoa…..just got to the part where she has to be taken to her room in a wheelchair but still keeps an 8.30 appointment in the spa! I’d have been in bed for 3 days if I was that drunk! Who does that and what’s your secret?

[jamesl]

She went to the spa in the morning and wasn’t looking for her husband?!

[swampthings]

I find it weird that they're on their honeymoon and partying so hard they're just passing out in random rooms and hallways...to each their own I guess

[always_b_natural]

The question in murder is who benefits the most. The motives for murder break down to sex, money/greed, and the need to escape/not get caught. With this in mind, and that Jennifer's keycard wasn't used to enter the suite, the most likely suspects are the three guys. Firstly, they weren't averse to doing illegal activities - the first indicator in this story being sneaking liquor onto the ship. Yes, a small thing, but an indicator of character. Their taking the fifth doesn't advance their case for innocence. The one guy serving time for drugs in a further indication of his willingness to be involved with drugs. His throwing shade on Jennifer is a classic misdirection, contraindicated by Jennifer's drugged state and lack of entry into the room in the time frame.

I think the most likely scenario is that Jennifer and George were targeted. (It is somewhat strange that 3 young guys would be on this sort of cruise, as these long and expensive cruises are usually for the newly wed and the nearly dead. Young men on vacation are usually looking to get laid, a cheap and short party cruise being a more likely venue). The couple was drugged, one way or another by these three. Jennifer wasn't around and George was passed out. George roused to find these three going through the room and stealing his expensive watch off his wrist. A fight broke out and George was purposefully thrown overboard. Cruise ships are notorious for covering up assaults and murders, which are more common than many people think. The three got lucky, and as long as they hang together, there is little that can be done. Suspicion does not make a conviction.

As for Jennifer? Maybe she's superficial. She's a beautiful woman. She probably met, (or already knew) a wealthy/suitable man quite quickly after George's death and has gone on to spend her time raising her family and doing charity work. Even George's family doesn't think she had anything to do with it, and are just hurt she moved on so quickly.