Rosamma A. Alappatt

Cruise ship death may be suicide
ADN 9/10/99

JUNEAU -- Investigators believe an Ohio woman who died Monday after falling from a tour ship in Glacier Bay committed suicide, Alaska State Troopers said. A man saw Rosamma A. Alappatt, 51, of Warren, Ohio, standing on the outside of the railing on the Spirit of Adventure, said trooper Sgt. Kurt Ludwig in Ketchikan. Alappatt made eye contact with the man, said nothing and released her grip, Ludwig said. Alappatt had a history of mental illness, Ludwig said. The man ran to where she had been and saw her dangling by her leg from a boarding ladder. He saw her pull her leg out and fall into the water, Ludwig said. The tour boat's crew launched a smaller boat and pulled her aboard about eight minutes later. She was taken to the infirmary of a nearby cruise ship, where she was pronounced dead.