American Woman Located After Mysterious Caribbean Disappearance
An American tourist whose sudden disappearance from a Caribbean cruise excursion triggered an intensive international search has been found, authorities confirmed. Ann Evans, 55, was reported missing after she failed to return to the Holland America Line cruise ship, the Rotterdam, which was docked in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, on November 20.
The Search and Discovery
The Police Force of Sint Maarten announced the breakthrough on Friday, following an eight-day operation. In a statement, they confirmed that contact had been established with the individual. "Following coordination between [police] and other partners, contact has been made with the individual in question," the police force stated. They added that, in line with privacy laws, no further details about her circumstances would be disclosed.
The investigation revealed that Evans had disembarked the ship and taken a bus to Marigot on the French side of the island, Saint Martin. She subsequently did not return to the bus or to the cruise ship. A key breakthrough came when police discovered that a woman matching Evans' description had used her passport to check into a hotel on the French side of the island. Authorities also reported sightings of her in the vicinity of that establishment.
Timeline of Events and Family Appeal
The cruise journey began when the ship departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on November 16, with scheduled stops at various Caribbean destinations, including St. Lucia and Barbados. It was expected to conclude its voyage and return to Florida on November 28.
During the search, police publicly encouraged Evans to contact her family if she saw the missing person reports, in order to quickly confirm her safety and well-being. Holland America Line confirmed they had notified local authorities immediately after the guest failed to return and were cooperating closely with the investigation.
While the central mystery of why Ann Evans disappeared remains officially unanswered, her location has now been confirmed, bringing a close to a frantic search that captured international attention.
