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Couple Says They Fell Ill at the Same Dominican Republic Resort Where 3 Americans Mysteriously Died

June 07, 2019
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2 min read
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Couple Says They Fell Ill at the Same Dominican Republic Resort Where 3 Americans Mysteriously Died
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Following the mysterious deaths of three Americans at the Grand Bahia Principe hotel in La Romana in the Dominican Republic, a couple from Colorado now claims that they fell ill at the very same resort in June 2018.

ABC News reported that Kaylynn Knull and her boyfriend, Tom Schwander, began feeling ill on their vacation after smelling a strong fume-like scent in their hotel room. "As soon as we came back to the room, we noticed it smelled like somebody had dumped paint everywhere," Knull told ABC Denver affiliate KMGH in a recent interview. "We were drooling excessively. My eyes would not stop watering."

The couple changed rooms, but the bizarre symptoms persisted. They later woke up at 4am "soaked in sweat" and made the call to book a flight home immediately. "I was having the worst intestinal cramping I have ever experienced. It felt like a chainsaw going through my gut," Knull said. When the couple returned home to Colorado, they visited a doctor who diagnosed their condition as a potential poisoning by organophosphate, a form of insecticide that Knull believes was being used on plants around the Grand Bahia Principe.

The couple then sued the resort for $1 million after management refused to reveal the chemical used on its grounds or refund their money. However, KMGH reported that the case has since stalled in local courts.

Since the Colorado couple's case a year ago, three other guests at the Grand Bahia Principe hotel in La Romana have died from similar symptoms.

Miranda Schaupp-Werner, 41, was found dead in her room at the resort on May 25, and just five days later, couple Edward Nathaniel Holmes, 63, and Cynthia Ann Day, 49, were also found dead in their room. All deaths, according to the Dominican Republic National Police, had the same cause — respiratory failure and pulmonary edema. "This is the first time I’ve seen something like this," Col. Frank Duran, director of communications for the Dominican Republic National Police, told ABC News on Wednesday. "The manner of deaths weren’t violent."

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Investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are currently awaiting the results of toxicology and pathology exams for the three victims. As of now, officials on the investigation say that there is no connection between these deaths.

Featured image by UIG via Getty Images

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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