After two years of wondering about the cause of the strange death of her husband in the Dominican Republic, a lady says she is stunned to see that so many Quebecers believe they were poisoned there in recent years.
• Read also: Read new disturbing testimonies from Quebecers
“It upsets me. I thought my husband was an isolated case… that he had lost his temper,” whispers Betty Osorio, wife of Patricio Retamal, after reading our recent article.
Last Monday, The newspaper reported having received half a dozen disturbing testimonies from people fearing that they or their loved ones had been drugged during their stay in Punta Cana.
They reported confusion, paranoia, vomiting, and urges to jump into space.
This followed our reporting on the mysterious death of William Gareau, 25, during an episode of psychotic delirium at the Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar, a five-star hotel, last January.
William Gareau, died in the Dominican Republic on January 16.
Photo courtesy, Sylvie Marcotte
He fell three floors before succumbing to his injuries.
And over the past week, testimonies from readers who have experienced troubling situations in the Dominican Republic have multiplied.
Growing number
We collected statements from more than fifteen other Quebecers who believe they were or saw someone being drugged, voluntarily or not, during their recent vacation in Punta Cana.
- Listen to the interview with Betty Osorio, wife of Patricio Retamal on the Richard Martineau show via QUB :
“The number of people who have experienced an episode similar to William’s is only increasing. It’s crazy,” laments Roxanne Brissette, spouse of the deceased.
This is particularly the case of Mr. Retamal, who died on November 19, 2021.
Patricio Retamal and Betty Osorio, during their vacation.
Photo courtesy, Betty Osorio
The 56-year-old from Brossard and his wife were staying at the same hotel as William.
The day before, they had taken a catamaran excursion, before having dinner and drinking a glass of rum. Then, in the middle of the night, Betty Osorio woke up.
“My husband was hysterical. He saw things that were not real, says the 54-year-old lady, still fragile. He came out of the room and was screaming. He jumped into the pool from the balcony. He had never acted this way. I filmed it.”
To have known…
Unfortunately, Mr. Retamal lost his life as a result of his fall. His wife was never able to see him again once he died.
“The doctors didn’t want me to see him. And Air Transat had already changed my return date for the next day,” she laments.
“I was flatly told: ‘you have nothing more to do here’” continues Ms. Osorio, now convinced that her husband was drugged while drinking alcohol.
“A member of the hotel told me that it was the first time he had seen this. If I had known, we never would have gone. My husband would be alive,” said the widow, choking back tears.
The latter now hopes that these testimonies will serve to shed light on these mysterious poisonings and warn future vacationers.
“If my testimony can help… I no longer have the strength and the means to fight. I threw in the towel, she resigns herself. The Dominican Republic, for me, is over. »
For her part, the deceased’s daughter is still hoping for explanations.
“No one deserves what happened to him, neither him, nor William, nor the other victims,” says Beatryz Elvira Retamal, 31 years old. We had loved ones taken from us. I sincerely hope that justice will be done.”
Beatryz Elvira Retamal and her father Patricio Retamal.
Photo courtesy, Beatryz Elvira Retama
Concerning
Recently called upon to react to the situation by The newspaperthe Bahia Principe hotel complexes had stated that the investigation into the death of William Gareau was continuing, and did not want to comment further on other cases of intoxication.
The Air Transat spokesperson concedes that these testimonies are worrying.
“We take this information with the greatest attention and are in constant communication with our hotel partners to ensure the safety of our travelers,” responds Bernard Côté by email.
Then, despite the traumatic events experienced by many Quebecers, the Association of Travel Agents of Quebec (AAVQ) calls on travelers to put things into perspective.
“It’s very delicate. I don’t want to minimize what people have experienced, but I can’t say it’s dangerous. We know that there are tens of thousands of people per week who go to the Dominican Republic, and we have not seen any abnormal reports from this destination compared to others,” says Moscow Côté, president of the AAVQ.
Furthermore, several American media reported that a 41-year-old mother, Stefanie Smith, died on February 28, on her return flight, following a week of vacation at the Iberostar Grand Bavaro hotel. in Punta Cana.
Before leaving the hotel complex, the nurse allegedly drank mojitos, they report.