Service Set for Man Missing From Cruise Ship

Goldsboro, N.C. — There is no body and no real answers, but a Wayne County family will hold a memorial service Tuesday for a man who is missing from a cruise ship and is feared dead.

Kenneth "Brent" Smith was last seen aboard a cruise ship in the Bahamas one week ago. Many believe he fell overboard, but the FBI is still looking into the case and there has been no ruling.

Smith was vacationing with family aboard the Freedom of the Seas cruise ship when he was reported missing. The ship came about to look for Smith, but couldn't find him.

The U.S. Coast Guard joined in the search, but without luck.

In a phone interview Monday, the FBI, which doesn't investigate missing persons cases, said its agents were still poring over evidence just to make sure there had been no foul play.

“The FBI evidence response team processed the cabin that was secured once the victim was discovered missing aboard the ship,” Agent Henry Rodriguez said. The FBI also said agents had looked at copies of videotape taken from security cameras aboard the ship.

The ship returned to Miami on Sunday.
Passengers said the crew of the ship spent days trying to find Smith.
"They had every single employee on the ship search every cabin, every public room to see if they could find him," said cruise ship passenger Earnest Wallis.
The family placed an obituary in Monday’s Wilson Daily Times that said Smith died Monday, June 18, while vacationing with his family.

The family said it would celebrate celebrate his life tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the United In Christ Church on Patetown Road in Goldsboro.