MIAMI – Miami-Dade police are searching for a 26-year-old man who they said was reported missing by a relative after the Carnival cruise they were on docked at PortMiami.
According to authorities, Kevin McGrath was last seen around 2 a.m. Monday inside his cabin onboard the Carnival Conquest ship.
A statement from the cruise line, however, said his cabin mate actually last saw him around 7 a.m. that morning “around the time the debarkation of guests was beginning.”
“The guest was not located on board despite an extensive search,” the statement read. “The U.S. Coast Guard was contacted and completed a helicopter search of the water in the general vicinity and Miami-Dade police officers came on board to investigate. The guest was not detected by surveillance systems, including U.S. Customs and Border Patrol during the debarkation process. Miami-Dade police eventually cleared the ship to sail. The Carnival Care Team is supporting the guest’s family.”
McGrath’s sister told Local 10 News reporter Roy Ramos that her brother was aboard the ship with several relatives celebrating their father’s 60th birthday.
“He was having a good time, an amazing time, on the cruise ship,” said Danielle McGrath.
She said after he was reported missing, the U.S. Coast Guard was notified and began an extensive search of the waters around the port with a helicopter.
Miami-Dade police said they also had detectives go on board to investigate but after reviewing surveillance cameras and overboard alerts, nothing was found and the all-clear was given to depart.
Relatives said they know McGrath didn’t get off the ship through the debarkation process because his mother still has all of his personal identification credentials, like his birth certificate and license.
“This is not like him and he would never disappear like this,” Danielle McGrath said. “He is also a father of two kids. He would not disappear.”
According to police, McGrath was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black shorts and gray sneakers.
He is described by police as a Black male, who is 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs about 170 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.
“I honestly don’t know what could’ve happened,” said Danielle McGrath. “It’s day three and he’s not in the water and he’s not on the ship, so where is he?”
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call Detective M. Ritch Jr. at 305-715-3300 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.