AP-Travel Online, August 2nd, 2006
An autopsy has been done on what investigators believe is the body of a Florida woman who disappeared from a cruise ship along the coast of Italy last week, Italian authorities said Wednesday, but they were still waiting for dental records to arrive to formally identify her.
Latina Prosecutor Raffaella Falcione said that she had not yet received the official report on the autopsy but that the coroner had told her that the body had "no signs of external lesions" _ an indication that no foul play was involved.
Little doubt remains that the body found Friday was that of 22-year-old Elizabeth Kay Galeana of Naples, Florida, authorities said. Galeana's family has said she was dead and that no foul play was suspected.
The body spotted by a yacht between the islands of Ponza and Palmarola matches Galeana's description _ including scars from a breast operation.
Falcione said authorities were waiting for dental records to arrive from the United States. Meanwhile, officials are trying to contact the plastic surgeon who did the breast surgery to help with the final identification.
Galeana was reported missing July 25 from Royal Caribbean International's Voyager of the Seas. The Miami-based cruise line has said Galena likely fell off the ship.
"Royal Caribbean is fully supporting the investigation," the cruise line said in a written statement Monday.
Galeana was last seen while the ship was en route to Naples, Italy, from the port of Civitavecchia, near Rome, according to a statement from Royal Caribbean. She was reported missing by her sister about seven hours later, and several onboard announcements and searches were carried out, the company said.
