A wrongful death lawsuit filed against Royal Caribbean claims that the body of a California man was kept in a refrigerator for the remainder of a three-day cruise after he died following what the complaint describes as a violent restraint by ship security. The suit alleges that 35-year-old Michael Virgil had been served 33 alcoholic drinks under the cruise line’s unlimited beverage package before becoming severely intoxicated and entering a distressed state that escalated into a fatal encounter with crew members.
According to the lawsuit, Virgil was travelling with his fiancée, Connie Aguilar, and their 7-year-old autistic son on a short December 2024 holiday cruise from Los Angeles to Ensenada. After consuming numerous drinks at one of the ship’s bars, he reportedly became disoriented, unable to locate his cabin and increasingly agitated. The complaint states that he then erupted in anger, allegedly threatening passengers and crew.
Security personnel allegedly tackled him, pinned him face-down with several guards applying their full body weight, used pepper spray, and administered an injection of the sedative Haloperidol.
The autopsy later found that although his blood alcohol level was elevated, it was “not lethal on its own.” The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide, citing mechanical asphyxiation, respiratory failure and cardiopulmonary arrest associated with restraint.
Aguilar’s attorney says she begged ship officials to return to port after Virgil died, but the request was denied. Instead, the suit claims his body was placed in a refrigeration unit and kept there for the rest of the voyage until the ship returned to Los Angeles. While cruise ships typically have a small morgue onboard, the lawsuit argues that standard procedures were not followed.
The family’s lawyer compared Virgil’s death to other high-profile restraint-related fatalities, arguing that prolonged pressure on his back and neck prevented him from breathing. He contends that while excessive alcohol service contributed to the situation, the primary cause of death was the physical restraint.
Royal Caribbean has not publicly addressed the full set of allegations. The lawsuit accuses the company of negligence, excessive force, failure to adhere to safety protocols, and improper handling of Virgil’s remains. The case adds to ongoing scrutiny over how cruise lines deal with intoxicated passengers, onboard violence and medical emergencies at sea.
