East Coast Woman, Couple Die at Same Caribbean Resort Days Apart

A Pennsylvania woman died inside her Dominican Republic hotel room just days before a Maryland couple was found dead at another hotel at the same resort, U.S. officials confirmed.

On May 25, Miranda Schaup-Werner, a 41-year-old psychotherapist from Lehigh County, arrived at the Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville with her husband to celebrate their ninth wedding anniversary.

• Woman Says She Was Brutally Beaten During Vacation in DR

While inside their room, Schaup-Werner had a drink from the mini-bar when she was suddenly struck with "acute physical distress," a family spokesperson said. She then collapsed to the floor.

Schaup-Werner's husband, a doctor, performed CPR as he waited for medics to arrive. She was later pronounced dead. 

• Husband of Woman Beaten on Vacation Says Police Are Lying

The family spokesperson said Schaup-Werner died from respiratory failure and pulmonary edema. While the U.S. Department of State confirmed Schaup-Werner's death with NBC News, they did not identify an exact cause.

A a toxicology report was never completed and Schaup-Werner's glass and drink were never tested, the family spokesperson said. The spokesperson also said Schaup-Werner was healthy.

• Relatives of MD Couple Found Dead in Dominican Hotel Want Answers

Five days later, Nathaniel Holmes, 63, and Cynthia Day, 50, an engaged couple from Maryland, were found dead at the Grand Bahia Principe La Romana, an adjacent hotel on the same Bahia Principe property.

Investigators said Holmes and Day died from respiratory failure and pulmonary edema. The Department of State said in a statement they were "not aware" of any connection between the death of Schaup-Werner and the deaths of Day and Holmes.

Day and Holmes had been staying at the vacation spot since May 25 and were scheduled to fly back home May 30.

The bodies showed “no signs of violence,” according to a statement from Bahia Principe.

Police said investigators are looking at the possibility carbon monoxide poisoning is to blame for Holmes' and Day's deaths. Police did not confirm whether the couple's room had a carbon monoxide detector.

Speaking by phone, Sonya Jackson, Day’s sister, said the family is having a hard time believing respiratory issues caused the couple's deaths.

NBC News and NBC4 contributed to this report.

Correction: NBC10 initially reported that Miranda Schaup-Werner died at the same hotel where Nathaniel Holmes and Cynthia Day died. We later determined that they died at two separate hotels at the same Dominican Republic resort.

Photo Credit: Facebook Photo

from NBC New York - Top Stories http://bit.ly/2wChSrx