NASHVILLE TENNESSEE: Addison Thomas, the former wife of a man who mysteriously disappeared during a Carnival Cruise, is expressing her belief that he is still alive and pleading for his safe return.
Thomas has come forward with her heartfelt plea, shedding light on the baffling circumstances surrounding the disappearance of her ex-husband, Kevin McGrath, who is also the father of their two children.
Kevin McGrath's mysterious disappearance during celebration cruise
The unsettling events unfolded during a Labor Day cruise from Miami to the Bahamas, which was organized to celebrate McGrath's father's 60th birthday. However, what was supposed to be a joyous family occasion took a dark turn when McGrath vanished without a trace, Thomas told TMZ
The cruise had reached its conclusion as the ship was returning to Florida, and McGrath was expected to join his family for breakfast. He never appeared, causing immediate concern and prompting a missing person report.
Carnival Cruise crew members and staff, along with the Coast Guard, launched extensive searches to locate McGrath, but their efforts proved fruitless.
Intriguingly, the ship's overboard detection device was never activated, and there was no evidence suggesting that McGrath had gone overboard. Equally puzzling was the fact that there were no signs of him onboard the ship, per Daily Mail.
The situation takes an additional layer of complexity when considering McGrath's legal history. He had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in Tennessee in September 2022 for making threats against his family.
Consequently, he was sentenced to six years of supervised probation, a sentence he reportedly violated.
A persistent love connection and hope for Kevin McGrath's safe return
Addison Thomas, who maintained regular contact with McGrath and described a continuing "love connection" between them, is resolute in her belief that he is still alive.
She expressed her desire for his safe return, emphasizing, "I just want him found alive and safe."
McGrath had relocated from Tennessee to Florida, where he was living with his parents. Despite the cruise being a family celebration for his father's milestone birthday, McGrath's probation officer asserted that he had never received authorization to go on the trip.
The probation officer only became aware of McGrath's parole violation through media reports. Legal documents indicate that McGrath had failed to maintain contact with his probation officer, a requirement of his parole. All attempts to reach him after he went missing proved unsuccessful.
The last confirmed sighting of McGrath was on the night of September 3. His keycard was used to access his room around 3.30 am the following day, according to TMZ, which first reported the story.
One month after his disappearance, on Tuesday, October 3, Thomas expressed the anguish she faces every day, revealing, "It just s***s because we literally have to wake up every day wondering, 'Where is Kevin?'"
Thomas firmly believes that their relationship was not fraught with negativity before his disappearance. She asserted, "Our relationship was not bad at all... It never ended, regardless of the past, it was always still there."
She also emphasized that McGrath's prior legal issues should not define him as a person. She implored people not to jump to conclusions based on those charges.
"Nobody should look at the charge like, 'That is why he is missing.' That is not the case here," she insisted.
She added, "Kevin is a human. He was a soldier. He fought for your country, you know. He didn't have to fight for you guys, you know, and you are treating him like this dangerous guy."
Love and support amidst uncertainty
Addressing the negative discussions circulating on social media, Thomas defended McGrath's character, stating, "We are not afraid of Kevin. We love him. He was literally the life of the party. He was not a bad person at all."
She stressed her unwavering support for him, both as his former spouse and as a concerned family member.
She also wanted the world to know that "He is not a bad guy at all, regardless of whether we are together or not I am always going to back him up."
In a direct message to McGrath, she conveyed her love and concern, saying, "I just want him to know that we love him dearly... I just pray that you are found safe."
Thomas is determined to uphold her belief in McGrath's well-being and to counter any negative perceptions stemming from his legal past as the search for answers continues.
