Family sues Royal Caribbean; ME rules cruise death a homicide after alleged 33 drinks
After a man aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise was allegedly served 33 drinks and later restrained by ship security, a medical examiner ruled his December 2024 death a homicide, citing the combined effects of mechanical asphyxia, obesity, cardiomegaly and ethanol intoxication. The family’s lawsuit alleges security used three cans of pepper spray, multiple personnel compressed his body until he stopped moving, staff ordered a haloperidol injection, the body was refrigerated until the ship returned to Los Angeles, and their attorney accuses Royal Caribbean of negligent hiring, training and supervision.
📌 Key Facts
- A medical examiner formally ruled the death a homicide, citing the combined effects of mechanical asphyxia, obesity, cardiomegaly and ethanol intoxication.
- The family has filed a lawsuit against Royal Caribbean alleging negligence and misconduct; plaintiffs’ attorney Kevin Haynes accused the cruise line of negligent hiring, training and supervision.
- The complaint alleges security restrained Virgil with body compression by multiple ship security personnel until he stopped moving, and that security deployed three cans of pepper spray.
- The complaint also says a staff captain ordered a haloperidol injection during the incident.
- Video referenced in the suit shows Virgil kicking a door prior to the security takedown; the suit notes he had purchased a 'Deluxe Beverage' package.
- Virgil’s body was kept refrigerated onboard the ship until it returned to Los Angeles on Dec. 16, 2024.
📊 Relevant Data
Alcohol is a factor in 60% of cases where people go overboard on cruise ships, according to reports on cruise safety.
Why Are There So Many Drunk People on Cruise Ships? — Oar Health
Cruise ships experience approximately one death per 150,000 passengers, translating to 3-4 deaths per week based on 2019 data with 30 million passengers.
Cruise Ship Deaths: Hundreds Occur Per Year, Here's What the Data Reveals — Newsweek
In a study of 229 civil litigated cases of prone restraint-related deaths in the US from 2010 to 2019, 38% of the decedents were African American, while African Americans make up about 13% of the US population; per capita, this indicates overrepresentation.
“I can’t breathe” – A study of civil litigated cases on prone restraint deaths — Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Cruise lines offer unlimited drink packages, with policies such as cutting off passengers after 15 drinks, which for a 200-pound male would result in a blood alcohol content of 0.305.
Does the Cruise Industry Have a Drinking Problem? — Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer
📰 Sources (2)
- Medical examiner formally ruled the death a homicide, citing combined effects of mechanical asphyxia, obesity, cardiomegaly and ethanol intoxication.
- Complaint specifies security used three cans of pepper spray and that a haloperidol injection was ordered by the staff captain.
- Allegation that restraint involved body compression by multiple ship security personnel until Virgil stopped moving.
- Body was kept refrigerated onboard until the ship returned to Los Angeles on Dec. 16, 2024.
- Video context: Virgil seen kicking a door prior to security takedown; suit notes he had purchased a 'Deluxe Beverage' package.
- Quoted statement from plaintiffs’ attorney Kevin Haynes accusing Royal Caribbean of negligent hiring, training, and supervision.