Missing Woman, Who Disappeared After Deboarding Cruise Ship In St. Thomas, Is Found

ST. THOMAS — The Virgin Islands Police Department on Sunday announced that the 26-year-old woman who went missing in St. Thomas on Thursday, after deboarding the Carnival Splendor cruise ship she was vacationing on, has been found.

According to V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Glen Dratte, on Sunday at around 11:05 a.m., Regina Gilliam approached a Virgin Islands Port Authority (V.I.P.A.) officer at the Cyril E. King Airport and identified herself as the missing person from the Carnival Splendor cruise ship. The V.I.P.A. officer was able to verify that she was indeed Ms. Gilliam, and notified 911 immediately, Mr. Dratte said.

Ms. Gilliam was subsequently interviewed by the V.I.P.D.’s Investigations Bureau as part of the force’s standard procedures for missing persons. An investigation was launched to locate Ms. Gilliam on Thursday, when she did not reboard the ship before it was scheduled to depart St. Thomas at 4 p.m.

Mr. Dratte said the force was working with all relevant authorities to ensure Ms. Gilliam’s health and wellbeing, and to protect the integrity of the investigation.

Ms. Gilliam was on the passenger manifesto for Carnival Splendor, and was last seen disembarking the vessel at 8:19 a.m. on Thursday. She was reported missing after the ship departed the Charlotte Amalie Harbor, according to Mr. Dratte.