Autopsies show Americans who died at Dominican Republic sister resorts sustained internal trauma

Authorities in the Dominican Republic are investigating whether the mysterious deaths of three American tourists at hotels owned by the same company are related.

Miranda Schaup-Werner, 41, from Pennsylvania died May 25 at the Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville in San Pedro de Macoris. Officials said she started to feel sick while in her room, and was dead just two hours later. Cynthia Ann Day, 49, and Nathaniel Edwards Holmes, 63, of Maryland were staying at the Grand Bahia Principe La Romana next door, and resort staff found their bodies inside their room on May 30, after worried relatives called and said they hadn't returned home.

The Dominican government released autopsy details on Thursday, revealing that all three Americans had internal hemorrhaging, pulmonary edema, and enlarged hearts. A U.S. State Department official told The Washington Post authorities have not yet found a definitive link between the deaths. Toxicology reports are pending, and Dominican officials said they are waiting to see if Schaup-Werner, Day, and Holmes all ingested something that led to their deaths.

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