- Two resort staffers in the Bahamas arrested after American women allege drugging and assault during vacation.
- Women say they were offered a two-for-one drink by resort staff, soon felt ill, lost consciousness, and were assaulted.
- Arrested suspects identified using resort footage, investigation ongoing with the collaboration of Royal Bahamas Police Force and FBI.
Additional Coverage:
Two resort staffers have been arrested in the Bahamas after two American women on vacation accused them of drugging and assaulting them, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
Amber Sherer and Dongayla Dobson took a Carnival cruise to the Bahamas for a kid-free vacation earlier this month. On the last day of their trip, the cruise stopped on Grand Bahama Island, and the women decided to visit a resort recommended by the cruise company.
The resort staff offered Sherer and Dobson a two-for-one drink, which they accepted. However, soon after consuming the drink, they began feeling ill.
Dobson, in an interview with “Good Morning America,” stated, “After the first drink, we had to get out of the ocean because we noticed that it was just hitting so hard. I just felt so out of it.”
The two women claimed that they lost consciousness and were assaulted by two members of the resort staff. They mentioned having bruises on their legs and testing positive for various drugs.
Dobson recalled brief glimpses of one of the assailant’s faces, describing him as a staff worker with a goatee and a local. Resort security was able to identify the suspects using footage.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force assured the public that they handle such matters with professionalism, privacy, and sensitivity.
According to the police statement, the incident occurred on February 4th around noon, at a Central Grand Bahama beach. Upon learning about the incident, authorities launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of a 54-year-old man from Eight Mile Rock and a 40-year-old man from South Bahamia.
The police boarded the cruise ship to gather evidence, including the women’s statements, a hospital form from the ship’s doctor, and a sexual assault kit. The Royal Bahamas Police Force is collaborating with the FBI on the investigation.
Carnival Cruises confirmed that the two guests reported the sexual assault to Bahamian Police while on an independent shore excursion in Freeport, Bahamas. They added that their onboard care team supported the guests as they sailed back to Jacksonville and that they are cooperating fully with the Bahamian Police.
In January, the U.S. State Department issued a Level 2 travel advisory for the Bahamas due to an increase in homicides and sexual violence.
Sherer and Dobson expressed their dissatisfaction with the arrests, demanding justice for what they experienced.