A fourth American is reported to have died at a Dominican Republic resort in recent weeks, the State Department confirmed on Monday. Robert Bell Wallace, 67, died at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino resort in Punta Cana after drinking a scotch from his room's mini bar in April, a month before we learned of three other U.S. tourists' deaths at a different hotel on the other side of the island in May.
Three Americans died within a week of each other at the Bahia Principe Hotel in La Romana last month. Miranda Schaup-Werner, a 41-year-old psychotherapist, died after collapsing in her room. Five days later, engaged couple Edward Nathaniel Holmes and Cynthia Day died in their room. All three victims suffered from respiratory failure and pulmonary edema.
The U.S. Embassy is currently investigating the mysterious string of deaths. Dominican authorities insist the victims' previous health problems had something to do with their untimely deaths and that it's perfectly safe for tourists to visit. Officials also noted that initial autopsies of the deaths concluded that the victims died from natural causes and these were isolated incidents. But the victims' families say this is all "beyond coincidence" and they "look forward" to getting the FBI findings.
We also have the latest on the news that David Ortiz, a former Boston Red Sox player, was shot in the Dominican Republic on Sunday. He's currently recovering and is reportedly in "stable condition" after surgery.