Rhiannon Hendricks
A honeymoon marks the start of a new chapter in a couple's life together, but for some, it ends in tragedy. From murders to accidents, there are numerous instances of people who have died on their honeymoons. For example, Tina Watson died while scuba diving in Australia, with her husband Gabe Watson being charged with manslaughter and later, murder. Another couple, Costas John Sivyllis and Lindsey Vogelaar, died in a plane crash in Colorado. While the number of people who die on their honeymoons is unclear, the impact on surviving spouses and families is undoubtedly devastating.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people who died on their honeymoon | 15 |
| Honeymoon death causes | Murders, accidents, natural disasters |
| Honeymoon activities that led to death | Scuba diving, cruising, helicopter tour, plane ride |
| Countries where honeymoon deaths occurred | Australia, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, Greece, Honduras, Turkey, USA |
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What You'll Learn
Murder
While honeymoons are supposed to be a time of celebration and joy for newlyweds, they can sometimes take a sinister turn, as evidenced by the numerous cases of people who have been murdered while on their honeymoon. One notable case is the murder of Anni Dewani, a Swedish woman of Indian origin, who was killed while on her honeymoon in South Africa. Anni and her husband, Shrien Dewani, were travelling in a taxi that was hijacked, and Anni was fatally shot. Three people were arrested in the days following the crime, including the taxi driver, Zola Tongo, and two hijackers, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni. While they initially claimed it was an unintentionally fatal robbery, they later changed their story to allege that it was a premeditated murder for hire, orchestrated by Shrien Dewani himself. Shrien was put on trial, but due to inconsistencies in witness testimonies and a lack of credible evidence, he was ultimately acquitted and exonerated of all involvement.
Another tragic case is that of Tina Watson, an American woman who died while scuba diving in Australia during her honeymoon. Her husband, Gabe Watson, gave conflicting accounts of what happened, and was eventually charged with manslaughter by Australian authorities. Gabe served his term and returned to the US, but American police then charged him with murder.
In another instance, a Tennessee man, Bradley Dawson, was convicted of killing his wife, Christe Chen, while on their honeymoon in Fiji. Chen was found in their room at the resort with multiple blunt trauma wounds to her head, and Dawson was apprehended with his passport and personal belongings, indicating an attempt to flee the country. Dawson was sentenced to life in prison for the murder.
These cases highlight the dark side of what should be a joyous occasion, and serve as a reminder that even in the midst of celebration, danger and tragedy can sometimes strike. While the specifics of each case vary, the impact on the surviving spouses and families is undoubtedly devastating, leaving them to cope with the trauma and grief of losing their loved ones in what should have been a happy and memorable time.
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Accidents
Honeymoon deaths have occurred in several instances, with accidents being a common cause. Accidents during honeymoons can happen due to a variety of factors, ranging from natural disasters to transportation mishaps. Here are some tragic instances of accidental deaths during honeymoons:
Natural Disasters
Honeymoons often involve travel to exotic locations, and sometimes, nature can turn hostile, leading to tragic consequences. One such instance occurred in Ecuador, where a landslide killed at least six people and left thirty others missing. While it is not specified if the victims included honeymooners, it is a grim reminder of the unpredictability of nature.
Transportation Accidents
Plane and helicopter crashes have also claimed the lives of newlyweds. Costas John Sivyllis and his wife Lindsey Vogelaar, both working in the airline industry, died when their Beechcraft Bonanza crashed into a mountain shortly after taking off from Telluride Airport. In another tragic incident, a helicopter carrying Pennsylvania newlyweds Michael and Nicole Abel crashed into a mountain in Hawaii, killing all five people on board. The pilot's decision to fly too close to the mountainside was a contributing factor in this accident.
Boating Accidents
Boating accidents during honeymoons can have devastating outcomes. One such incident occurred in Egypt, where a freak storm capsized the boat of Luke Day and his wife. While Day valiantly saved his wife and two other vacationers, he sadly could not save himself and perished in the accident. Similarly, George Smith IV disappeared during a cruise between Greece and Turkey, with his family suspecting foul play. However, his wife and the ship's captain believed his death was accidental, and the FBI eventually closed their probe into the incident.
Adventure Sports Mishaps
Adventure sports can sometimes turn fatal, as in the case of Tina Watson, who died while scuba diving in Australia with her husband Gabe Watson. While the circumstances of her death are disputed, with conflicting accounts given, Gabe Watson was eventually charged with manslaughter and later, upon his return to the US, with murder.
These tragic accidents highlight the unpredictable nature of events during what should be a joyous and relaxing time for newlyweds. While most honeymoons are memorable for all the right reasons, these stories serve as a reminder of how quickly circumstances can turn nightmarish.
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Natural disasters
While it is challenging to determine the exact number of people who die on their honeymoon each year due to natural disasters, several notable incidents have been documented. One well-known case involves the Swedish couple Stefan and Erika Svanstrom (or Svanström), who embarked on a four-month honeymoon with their baby daughter in December 2011. They encountered numerous natural disasters, including:
- A severe snowstorm in Munich, Germany, which stranded them and was one of Europe's worst blizzards.
- A cyclone in Cairns, Australia, which required their evacuation, forcing them to spend 24 hours in a crowded shopping center.
- Flooding in Brisbane, Australia.
- Bushfires in Perth, Australia, from which they narrowly escaped.
- A 6.3-magnitude earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand.
- The 2011 Japanese earthquake, the country's largest temblor since records began.
The Svanstroms' experience demonstrates how natural disasters can unexpectedly impact honeymoons, and while they survived, other couples may not be as fortunate.
While deaths from natural disasters have decreased over the last century due to improved early warning systems, infrastructure, agriculture, and coordinated responses, climate change is increasing the risks of more extreme events. As a result, societies must become even more resilient to prevent progress from reversing.
In the United States, the years 2015-2024 saw 190 separate billion-dollar disasters, resulting in over 6,300 deaths and $1.4 trillion in damage. Tropical cyclones, severe storms, drought, and inland flooding have been the most costly and deadly, with tropical cyclones causing the highest number of fatalities.
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Foul play
While honeymoons are supposed to be a time of celebration and joy, they can sometimes take a sinister turn. Foul play on honeymoons has been known to occur, and in some cases, one spouse has even murdered the other.
One such instance of this was the case of Gabe and Tina Watson. Tina died while scuba diving in Australia during her honeymoon. Gabe Watson was then charged with manslaughter and later murder by American police, despite initially insisting it was an accident. He was eventually found guilty of intentionally killing his wife, motivated by the potential gain of $210,000 in life and travel insurance from his wife's death.
Another example of foul play on a honeymoon is the case of Bradley and Christe Chen Dawson. The couple was on their honeymoon in Fiji when Christe was found dead in their room with multiple blunt trauma wounds to her head. Bradley Dawson was found guilty of killing his wife and was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 18 years to be served.
In another tragic incident, George Smith IV disappeared while on a 14-day cruise with his new wife, Jennifer Hagel Smith, somewhere between Greece and Turkey. Although the details are unclear, his family believes foul play was involved, as there were traces of blood found in the couple's cabin and on the side of the ship. However, Hagel Smith and the ship's captain believe it was an accident, and the FBI closed their probe into the incident in 2015 without reaching a conclusion.
These stories serve as a stark reminder that even what should be a happy occasion can sometimes be marred by tragedy and foul play.
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Manslaughter
Honeymoon deaths are a tragic occurrence, and while the number of people who have died on their honeymoon is unclear, there are several instances of manslaughter that have taken place during honeymoons. Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a person without malice aforethought, and it can be either voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary manslaughter is often committed in the heat of passion, while involuntary manslaughter is typically the result of negligence or recklessness.
One instance of manslaughter during a honeymoon involved British man Lewis Bennett, who was sailing the Caribbean with his new wife, Isabela Hellman, in 2017. Bennett claimed that Hellman fell from their 40-foot catamaran, but he was later arrested and charged with murder after the FBI found evidence contradicting his story. He eventually pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and faced a maximum sentence of eight years in prison.
Another case of honeymoon manslaughter involved American Gabe Watson and his wife, Tina, who were scuba diving in Australia. Gabe was charged with manslaughter by Australian authorities after giving conflicting accounts of the events surrounding Tina's death. He pleaded guilty and served his term in Australia before being charged with murder by American police upon his return to the US.
In a different incident, a Tennessee man named Bradley Dawson was found guilty of killing his wife, Christe Chen, at a luxury resort in Fiji. Chen was found in their room with multiple blunt trauma wounds to her head, and Dawson was apprehended the next day with his passport and personal belongings, indicating an attempt to flee the country. He was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife.
While the details of each case vary, these instances of honeymoon manslaughter highlight the tragic and unexpected nature of such occurrences. They serve as a reminder that even what is supposed to be a joyous and relaxing time for newlyweds can sometimes take a devastating turn.
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