A mother and son have been involved in a shocking incident on a cruise ship, where they allegedly attacked an elderly woman. The 49-year-old woman, Kelli Lyn Ryan, and her 23-year-old son were reportedly responsible for the attack on a 65-year-old cruise ship passenger. The altercation took place inside the theater of MSC Seascape, and the entire incident was captured on the ship’s security video.
Kelli Lyn Ryan, who hails from Huntsville, Alabama, was arrested in Miami, Florida, for battery following the assault. The cruise ship had docked in Miami when she was taken into custody. The surveillance footage on the ship showed that Kelli’s son, Dylan, also physically assaulted the elderly woman by hitting her multiple times. Dylan was subsequently ejected from the ship in Jamaica due to his reported “excessive behavior,” as documented in an arrest report.
Despite her son’s removal, Kelli Ryan was allowed to remain on the cruise ship, which then made stops in Cozumel, Grand Cayman Island, and MSC Ocean Cay, the cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas. She was arrested on a Saturday and is now facing charges of battery against a person aged 65 or older. The incident occurred around 9.30pm on October 6, as per the surveillance footage, although the reason for the confrontation has not been disclosed by the police.
The whereabouts of Dylan Ryan are currently unknown, and it remains to be seen whether he will face charges upon his return to the United States. This disturbing event follows another recent cruise ship incident in Florida, where a passenger was arrested for rape after allegedly assaulting a 20-year-old fellow passenger on a Royal Caribbean ship. Juan Campos, 28, was apprehended at Port Everglades following the docking of Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas in early September.
Campos, who hails from Houston and has a family background in law enforcement, was held on a $20,000 bond after the accusations were made. His legal team has contended that the sexual encounter was consensual, although the victim claimed otherwise, stating that Campos continued despite her objections and even used an unknown object. The New York Post reported these details surrounding the incident.
These disturbing incidents highlight the importance of ensuring the safety and security of all passengers aboard cruise ships, and the need for swift and appropriate action in response to any violent or criminal behaviour. The authorities continue to investigate these cases to bring justice to the victims and ensure the responsible parties are held accountable for their actions.