This archive report was first published on 19 October 2019.
On October 19, 2019, the F.B.I. concluded its investigation into the deaths of two American tourists in the Dominican Republic, ruling out poisoned alcohol as the cause of their demise.
The investigation, which was conducted in collaboration with the Dominican Republic National Police, focused on three cases, including the deaths of a Maryland couple, Nathaniel E. Holmes and Cynthia A. Day, who died overnight in the same hotel room in La Romana.
According to a State Department spokesperson, the F.B.I. found no evidence to support the theory that tainted drinks were to blame for the deaths. Instead, the agency's investigation suggested that the cause of the deaths was respiratory failure brought on by fluid in the lungs, known as pulmonary edema.
The Dominican authorities had earlier reached a similar conclusion, finding no evidence of foul play or violence in the cases.
However, the family of the Maryland couple has expressed skepticism about the F.B.I.'s findings, with their lawyer, Steven E. Bullock, stating that the deaths still warranted further review.
"You had a couple that died of the same ailment at the same time, and they want to say that it's natural causes," Mr. Bullock said. "I think there's something for us to continue to look into."
More than 2.7 million Americans visit the Dominican Republic each year, and the country's economy relies heavily on tourism.
