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Missing Cruise Passenger Probe May Take Weeks

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 31, 2008

The investigation of the disappearance of cruise ship passenger Jennifer Ellis-Seitz of Winter Haven could take weeks, FBI spokesman Mike Leverock said today.

Family members say Ellis-Seitz, reported missing Friday from a cruise ship off Cancun, Mexico, has had emotional issues and might have chosen "an unfortunate ending to her life."

The U.S. Coast Guard and Mexico's navy have called off the search for Ellis-Seitz, 36.

The Coast Guard says there are images from a cruise ship surveillance camera of someone falling from the Norwegian Pearl about 8 p.m. Christmas Day.

Raymond Seitz reported his wife missing to cruise ship personnel shortly before 4 a.m. Friday. Employees searched the ship and notified the Coast Guard.

Norwegian Cruise Line said the ship returned to Miami on Sunday after the seven-day cruise of the western Caribbean.

Leverock said agents are trying to determine whether a crime occurred and may re-interview passengers, family and crew members.

Ellis-Seitz, a Central Florida native, is founder of NewsHound Communications, which does writing, editing, proofreading, training and advertising, according to the company's Web site. She also is a school bus driver, amateur chef and avid traveler.

As a journalist, she worked for Florida Today, The (Lakeland) Ledger and The Tampa Tribune, according to her Web site. Tribune archives show a Jennifer Ellis was a Tribune correspondent from January to August 1997.

Court records show Raymond Seitz was arrested in April after Ellis-Seitz called 911 and told authorities he grabbed her wrist when they were arguing and hit her forehead with his forehead. About two weeks later, she signed a written statement saying she wanted the charges dismissed.

In the written statement, she said "the charges are overblown and that there were underlying aggravations, including my own actions."

Court records show Seitz completed a domestic violence course and that charges against him were dismissed.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691 or jpoltilove@tampatrib.com.

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