Princess cruise ship Emerald Princess was diverted from its regular Alaskan voyage on Tuesday after a terrible tragedy on board. According to the news media, a woman was murdered by her husband after a domestic dispute. The victim is 39-year old Kristy Manzanares from Utah who together with her husband and three children was on a 7-day Alaska voyage on board Emerald Princess. Passengers in the nearby staterooms say they have heard loud voices from the couple’s cabin, after which a child run to the corridor crying and asking for help. People who run to help say that when they enter the cabin saw a woman on the floor covered in blood. Witnesses say when they ask what happen Kenneth Manzanares replied: “she would not stop laughing at me”. Then Kenneth tried to drag his wife to the balcony but was stopped. There was an announcement by the captain on the loudspeakers for all medical and security teams to report on deck 9 and 14. Shortly after ship security officer handcuffed Manzanares, who was kept in a nearby cabin. FBI was notified about the murder and agents boarded Emerald Princess in Juneau and arrested the man. FBI report states that the woman died from the severe head injury.

Princess Cruises released a statement “Princess Cruises can confirm that a domestic dispute occurred on board Emerald Princess at approximately 9:00 pm on July 25, resulting in the death of a 39-year old female guest from Utah. Since the incident, our fleet security team has been coordinating with the FBI and other local authorities. They will be embarking the ship when it arrives in Juneau this morning.”

According to the FBI, Kenneth Manzanares confessed the murder. He is in custody in Juneau, Alaska where the first hearing on the case was held on Thursday.

"My life is over," Kenneth said when being questioned by the FBI. Wearing an orange jumpsuit, characteristic of American inmates, he seemed to be crying in the minutes before the court hearing by Judge Kevin McCoy.  

Kristy Manzanares, mother of three was considered trusted by her employers and colleagues, according to a statement from the company where she worked as a real estate agent. "Kristy was a devoted, loving mother who juggled her business agenda to make her children a priority," said a note from Summit Sotheby's International Realty in St George, Utah.