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‘It’s a bit unusual’: American tourist couple found unresponsive in hotel room both died of respiratory failure, officials say
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An engaged couple from Maryland found dead in their Dominican Republic hotel room both reportedly died or respiratory failure.

According to ABC News, officials in the Dominican Republic have said that Edward Nathael Holmes, 63, and Cynthia Ann Day, 49, both died of respiratory failure and pulmonary embolism. The couple, reportedly engaged to be married, was found on Thursday, the day they were expected to check out of the hotel. When they missed the check-out time, hotel staffers reportedly checked the room and found both Holmes and Day unresponsive, with prescription medicine for high blood pressure nearby.

The Washington Post reports bottles of prescription oxycodone, a painkiller, were also found in the room, and that authorities are awaiting the results of toxicology tests.

“It’s a bit unusual,” Ramon Brito, a spokesman for the tourism branch of the national police, told the newspaper, while declining to comment further on the ongoing investigation. The U.S. State department reportedly said it is in “close contact” with investigators in the Dominican Republic and working with relatives to arrange for the remains to be returned to the United States.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, there was no sign of violence in the hotel room. As the Washington Post notes, Holmes had posted on social media and told family members that the couple was having a great time on the trip, which began on May 25.