Coast Guard cutters and two
helicopters fanned out Monday in search of a missing 75-year-old
female cruise passenger who failed to disembark in Genoa last
night.
The passenger, a retired native of Vicenza (not Verona as
previously reported) named only as R. R., had boarded the MSC
cruise ship Opera in Civitavecchia with a group of friends.
Investigators said the passenger had recently found out she
was very ill, and have not ruled out suicide or an accidental
fall.
The woman reportedly sent her daughter a text message two
night ago saying "Forgive me".
Her boyfriend, who was not on the cruise, told
investigators he found letters at home in which the missing
woman spoke of wanting to kill herself.
Investigators have seized footage from on-board cameras, and
a search is ongoing in the sea off Elba Island, Genoa, La
Spezia, and Santa Margherita.
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