Utah Man Charged with Murdering Wife on Cruise Ship in Southeast Alaska

Anchorage, Alaska – Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that a Utah man was arrested on a criminal complaint charging him with the murder of his wife onboard the cruise ship Emerald Princess in Southeast Alaska. At the time of the crime, the Emerald Princess was in U.S. Territorial Waters, subjecting the case to federal jurisdiction.

Kenneth Ray Manzanares, 39, of Santa Clara, Utah, was charged by criminal complaint with the murder of his wife, K.M. According to the criminal complaint, on July 25, 2017, Emerald Princess Security and Medical personnel responded to an incident in the cabin occupied by Kenneth and K.M. K.M. was found in the cabin, deceased, and had a severe head wound.

According to the complaint, prior to security officers arriving to the cabin, one of the witnesses, D.H., observed Manzanares grab K.M.’s body and drag her toward the balcony. D.H. then grabbed the ankles of K.M.’s body and pulled her back into the cabin. Soon after, Emerald Princess security entered the cabin and restrained and secured Manzanares.

Manzanares was detained by Security Officers at the scene, and was arrested yesterday, July 26, 2017. Manzanares is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court in Anchorage today, via video conference from Juneau, July 27, at 2:00 PM before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin F. McCoy.

The charges in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.