The family of a Chester woman who vanished from a cruise ship have called for police to re-interview two former Disney employees.
More than three years have passed since 24-year-old Rebecca Coriam mysteriously disappeared from the Disney Wonder cruise liner she was working on as it sailed off the coast of Mexico.
Now after years of searching for the truth about what happened to their daughter, her parents are demanding investigators re-interview two ex-staff members, who they belive have “crucial” information.
The call comes as a former US police officer, who joined Disney security after Rebecca went missing, slated the investigation as “bungled”
Ann and Mike, of Guilden Sutton, say their daughter’s colleagues – who were working onboard the �580m family orientated liner when Rebecca disappeared – were not interviewed thoroughly enough by the investigating officer.
Speaking to The Chronicle Mike, 60, said: “They were on the ship at the same time as Rebecca. We think they should have been more vigorous with their investigation.
“Our indications are they could have a lot more information.”
Both staff members were interviewed by Supt Paul Rolle, from the Royal Bahamas Police force, who spoke to the Coriam family briefly as they left the Disney Wonder after collecting their daughter’s belongings.
But the family have always claimed they were being ‘kept in the dark’ about what happened in the early hours of March 22 2011, both by the company and the investigating officer.
Ann, Mike and their daughter Rachael, are now taking Disney to court and have filed papers in Orlando suing the company for $75,000, in a bid to finally get the truth.
“The figure is nothing to do with us,” said Mike, who explained $75,000 was the statutory minimum amount their attorney has to file to take the case forward.
“The money doesn’t mean anything to us, we just have to keep going. We will not give up.”
Appearing on BBC North West Tonight last week, Mike claimed:
Disney broke protocol when the ship refused to turn around to look for Rebecca.
The wrong coordinates were given to coastguards, which may have led to a search in the wrong area and demanded to know whether the ship's tracking system, which has to be on at all times, was turned off or faulty on the day Rebecca disappeared.
The case could take years to make its way through the American courts, but the Coriams have said they will “never give up” in their search for answers – as they can’t get an inquest for their daughter unless police suggest foul play.
But they believe the original investigation failed; with no forensic investigation; and none of the 2,000 passengers being questioned by Supt Rolle – who was the only police officer to board the ship the day Rebecca disappeared.
And a former police officer who joined Disney security after Rebecca went missing, told the BBC the original investigation was “bungled”.
“There weren't proper statements taken and they ruined a perfectly good crime scene,” said Dawn Taplin who had a 17-year police career in the United States.
She claimed Disney had "boxed off" Rebecca's disappearance as suicide.
“'I asked if there was a suicide note. There wasn't. I asked if there was a diary. There was,” she said, adding, “something wasn't sitting right.”
The family claim Supt Rolle has not responded to their efforts to contact him and he was not available for The BBC or Chronicle
In a statement Disney said: “The allegations are without merit as we will prove in court.'”
