STORM2K

MIAMI -- Authorities were investigating the disappearance of a Florida woman from a cruise ship sailing along the coast of Italy, relatives said.

Family members identified the woman as Elizabeth Kay Galeana, 22, of Naples, Fla., reported missing Tuesday from Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean confirmed only that the missing woman was from the United States and would not identify her, spokesman Michael Sheehan said Saturday.

The ship was en route to Naples, Italy, from the port of Civitavecchia, near Rome, according to Royal Caribbean.

Galeana was last seen on the ship around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to the company. She was reported missing by her sister about seven hours later, and several onboard announcements and searches were carried out, the company said.

Italian authorities conducted air and sea searches but had called off their efforts.

Galeana is the daughter of Frank Galeana, owner of the Galeana Automotive Group dealership in Florida, South Carolina and Michigan.

"We know that she is missing, but that's really all we know," John Scanlan, a sales manager at Galeana Chrysler and Jeep in Fort Myers, told The Associated Press on Saturday.

A woman who answered the phone at the Michigan home of Frank Galeana declined comment.


http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld ... -headlines

How sad!

This was a local story here in SW FL:

Body found in sea may be missing Naples woman

COLLIER COUNTY: A prominant Southwest Florida family now awaits dental records to confirm a body found late Friday night "in the water" is missing twenty-two-year-old Elizabeth Galeana.

Elizabeth's brother, Frank Galeana Jr., says he does not know if foul play was involved.

The family is now trying to get a flight home out of Barcelona.

Elizabeth Galeana disappeared from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that was sailing in the Mediterranean Tuesday morning.

Galeana is from Naples and her family owns the Galeana Automotive Group, based in Fort Myers.

She was aboard the Voyager of the Seas, traveling from Rome to Naples, Italy. She was last seen around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday when she went to her parents' cabin for the night.

The next morning, around 7:30 a.m., Galeana was reported missing by her sister. According to the cruise line, they issued on board announcements and searched for her.

The US and Italian Coast Guard, the FBI, the US Consulate in Naples, Italy and the Naples Police had been involved in the investigation and search.

Galeana attended Gulf Coast High School but left in 2000 to attend the International Learning Academy, an alternative school, where Galeana's friend and former teacher Valaree Maxwell is president.

"Just a very effervescent young lady. She was always very bubbly and always wanted to graduate from high school," said Maxwell.

After she graduated in 2001, she went on to finishing school in Switzerland.

Royal Caribbean has issued a statement about Galeana's disappearance.

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readartic ... 146&z=3&p=




Statement from Galeana family

"Obviously, our entire family is devastated by the loss of Elizabeth. While we are awaiting the completion of the investigation into this tragedy, from what we know at this time we do not believe Elizabeth's death was the result of any foul play.

We want to publicly thank the management of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and especially the officers and crew of the "Voyager of the Seas" for the professionalism and compassion they displayed during this ordeal. They could not have done more than they did to help us deal with our anxiety and loss.

We also want to thank the representatives of the United States Government, especially Scott Turner U.S. counsel General in Naples, Italy and his staff for their untiring assistance in helping us dealing with the Italian authorities and the entire situation.

We have nothing further to say at this time and hope that everyone will respect our desire to deal with this in privacy."

The family of Elizabeth Galeana

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readartic ... 158&z=3&p=