The Investigation into Carla Van Eeden's Death
Donation protected
I am setting up this go fund me page to help Carla’s family get over to the Bahamas for the inquest into her death. The inquest starts this coming Monday the 29th of July until the 2nd of August. They have already spent hundreds of thousands on investigators/ lawyers and most importantly the services of one of the most esteemed Forensic Pathologists in South Africa. Costs are rapidly adding up they and are struggling to pull together money to get over to the Bahamas and to fund a second lawyer that is registered to practise law in the Bahamas along with all the other cost involved in the investigation up until now.
As it stands Carla's brother Johann (Junior) will be acting as the family’s formal representative without the help of a legal professional there because of the exceptionally high costs, however, this is not ideal and any assistance will mean the world to them. The help we get, however small, will go towards travel costs, legal advice, accommodation while the case is underway and any other unforeseen costs. Hopefully this will be the final step for the family so they can finally have some closure by way of answers.
For those of you that don’t know the details.
Carla was found unresponsive and subsequently declared dead in her hotel room on the 17th of May 2018
Sequence of events:
Carla took time off work in May last year to meet up with one of her close friends Anna for a break in Las Vegas, however, their holidays did not exactly correspond which meant Carla had 3-4 days on her own and wanted to make the most of it. Carla loved animals and heard about the rescue dolphins at a famous resort in the Bahamas located on the small Island of New Providence which is host to the resort and Nassau, which is the Capital of the Bahamas.
Short stopover en route to Las Vegas, 14th - 17th of May
Monday of the 14th of May 2018 - Carla arrived at this well know resort that offers the opportunity to swim with dolphins with a planned date of departure on the morning of Thursday the 17th of May to meet Anna in Las Vegas.
Carla was in constant communication with myself and another friend Lauren via WhatsApp voice messages on this day.
Tuesday 15th of May 2018 - Carla booked and paid for the dolphin experience at a price of $150 for the very next morning (Wednesday the 16th of May).
Once again Carla was in good spirits and was constantly in contact with Lauren via WhatsApp talking about everything under the sun and the cool things she had seen and done so far on her trip.
Carla’s last ever message was a reply to Lauren detailing the purchase of the dolphin experience and how excited she was about getting to swim with the dolphins.
Carla was last seen saying goodbye to people she met around the hotels pool area and then entering her room.
Wednesday 16th of May 2018 - Carla never showed up for that mornings booked dolphin experience, her phone went offline, and she was not seen again until she was discovered deceased in the room roughly 24 hours later (morning of Thursday the 17th of May).
Newspaper coverage and the second private autopsy:
The newspapers reported it as a suicide, however, many red flags, along with her current happy state of mind and other inconsistencies throughout the investigation have made us seriously question this (things we sincerely wish we could share but are unable to at this stage). This left us with no choice but to employ the services of one of South Africa's most esteemed Forensic Pathologists to perform a second autopsy to confirm/ corroborate the findings of the initial autopsy performed in the Bahamas.
The meticulously performed private forensic autopsy found significant evidence of foul play with injuries consistent with a violent struggle before the instance of death. This must be investigated further.
Unfortunately, we can’t disclose too much more information at the moment but obviously this is a very painful process for the family. I would like to be able to help Carla’s family raise some money to help take a little of the financial stress off their shoulders while attending this inquest as I don’t think this is going to be over for them anytime soon.
All the family want is and explanation how injustices consistent with foul play came about and they need a little bit of help with this.
Anyone that was lucky enough to have crossed paths with Carla will know how much she meant to us all and how horrific this whole ordeal has been.
As it stands Carla's brother Johann (Junior) will be acting as the family’s formal representative without the help of a legal professional there because of the exceptionally high costs, however, this is not ideal and any assistance will mean the world to them. The help we get, however small, will go towards travel costs, legal advice, accommodation while the case is underway and any other unforeseen costs. Hopefully this will be the final step for the family so they can finally have some closure by way of answers.
For those of you that don’t know the details.
Carla was found unresponsive and subsequently declared dead in her hotel room on the 17th of May 2018
Sequence of events:
Carla took time off work in May last year to meet up with one of her close friends Anna for a break in Las Vegas, however, their holidays did not exactly correspond which meant Carla had 3-4 days on her own and wanted to make the most of it. Carla loved animals and heard about the rescue dolphins at a famous resort in the Bahamas located on the small Island of New Providence which is host to the resort and Nassau, which is the Capital of the Bahamas.
Short stopover en route to Las Vegas, 14th - 17th of May
Monday of the 14th of May 2018 - Carla arrived at this well know resort that offers the opportunity to swim with dolphins with a planned date of departure on the morning of Thursday the 17th of May to meet Anna in Las Vegas.
Carla was in constant communication with myself and another friend Lauren via WhatsApp voice messages on this day.
Tuesday 15th of May 2018 - Carla booked and paid for the dolphin experience at a price of $150 for the very next morning (Wednesday the 16th of May).
Once again Carla was in good spirits and was constantly in contact with Lauren via WhatsApp talking about everything under the sun and the cool things she had seen and done so far on her trip.
Carla’s last ever message was a reply to Lauren detailing the purchase of the dolphin experience and how excited she was about getting to swim with the dolphins.
Carla was last seen saying goodbye to people she met around the hotels pool area and then entering her room.
Wednesday 16th of May 2018 - Carla never showed up for that mornings booked dolphin experience, her phone went offline, and she was not seen again until she was discovered deceased in the room roughly 24 hours later (morning of Thursday the 17th of May).
Newspaper coverage and the second private autopsy:
The newspapers reported it as a suicide, however, many red flags, along with her current happy state of mind and other inconsistencies throughout the investigation have made us seriously question this (things we sincerely wish we could share but are unable to at this stage). This left us with no choice but to employ the services of one of South Africa's most esteemed Forensic Pathologists to perform a second autopsy to confirm/ corroborate the findings of the initial autopsy performed in the Bahamas.
The meticulously performed private forensic autopsy found significant evidence of foul play with injuries consistent with a violent struggle before the instance of death. This must be investigated further.
Unfortunately, we can’t disclose too much more information at the moment but obviously this is a very painful process for the family. I would like to be able to help Carla’s family raise some money to help take a little of the financial stress off their shoulders while attending this inquest as I don’t think this is going to be over for them anytime soon.
All the family want is and explanation how injustices consistent with foul play came about and they need a little bit of help with this.
Anyone that was lucky enough to have crossed paths with Carla will know how much she meant to us all and how horrific this whole ordeal has been.
Organizer and beneficiary
Angelique Ward
Organizer
England
Johann Van Eeden
Beneficiary
Raised £1,485 from 15 donations
