Man allegedly murdered wife on Alaska cruise ‘because she wouldn’t stop laughing at me’

Kenneth Manzanares was found covered in blood in cabin where his wife Kristy suffered a fatal head wound

Kenneth and Kristy had set sail just two days earlier with their three daughters before the tragedy struck ( St. George News)

A man accused of murdering his wife on a family cruise because she would not stop laughing at him, faces the death penalty, a court heard.

Kenneth Manzanares had been married to his wife Kristy for than 20 years, when they set sail on a week-long trip around Alaska aboard the Emerald Princess with their three children.

But two days after the ship left port in Seattle, Washington, Ms Manzanares was found dead in her cabin with a severe head wound.

The couple were heard shouting, shortly before her body was discovered.

A family member who stumbled upon the aftermath saw Mr Manzanares beside his wife with blood-stained hands and clothes.

An FBI report said that when he was asked what had happened, Mr Manzanares replied: “She would not stop laughing at me.”

Mr Manzanares grabbed his wife’s body and dragged her toward a balcony in the cabin, the report added. But the family member pulled her back inside.

Witnesses staying in nearby berths earlier reported a commotion coming from the cabin of the couple, who are both from Utah.

One told St. George News: “All of them said that they were in there just screaming at each other, like it was loud. Lots of people were out on their balconies watching and listening.”

FBI Special Agent Michael L. Watson, searched Mr Manzanares for physical evidence linked to the murder of his wife after the ship docked in the Alaskan city of Juneau. Mr Watson said that during the inspection the accused stated: “My life is over.”

Mr Manzanares, 39, pleaded not guilty in a federal courtroom in Anchorage, Alaska, when charged with first-degree murder over the death of his wife Kristy, 39, on July 25.

Prosecutor Jack Schmidt told the hearing that the maximum penalty for the charge is life in prison or the death penalty.

He asked Judge Deborah Smith for 60 days for the State to decide if it would seek an execution. Ms Smith granted his request.