Kimberly Burch, the fiancée of Faster Pussycat singer Taime Downe, is presumed dead after reportedly falling overboard during an ’80s-themed cruise through the Caribbean.
In a Monday interview, Burch’s mother, Carnell Burch, told TMZ that Downe alerted her that her daughter had gone missing on the first day of the weeklong ship voyage, during which his glam metal band was set to perform.
Kimberly Burch, a 56-year-old realtor, had been dating Downe for about six or seven years, according to TMZ.
Her body has not been found and the circumstances around the fall reportedly remain unclear, according to Carnell Burch.
Carnell Burch told TMZ that she believed her daughter was drinking during the cruise, something she said was out of character for her. She also relayed that her child had no history of depression or emotional distress and the possibility of her intentionally jumping overboard was highly unlikely.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard said that the incident occurred approximately 20 miles away from Freeport, Bahamas.
Royal Caribbean representatives told TMZ that it had initiated search efforts for Kimberly Burch, to no avail.
“Our crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort, is working with local authorities, and we are providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time,” the company relayed. “To respect the privacy of our guest’s family, we have no additional details to share.”
HuffPost has reached out to representatives for Downe and Royal Caribbean for further details.
Burch’s family mourned her in a Facebook post on Tuesday, where they wrote, “It is with broken hearts that we share the sad news that Kimberly Burch has passed away.”
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“She was a beloved daughter, sister, sister-in-law and aunt,” the message continued. “She will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved her. We ask for prayers during this time for our family as we try to wrap our minds around this heartbreaking tragedy. We love and miss you Kimberly Burch!!”
Prior to the incident, Kimberly Burch posted an Instagram photo with Downe where she wrote, “We made it to @the80scruise.”