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FBI Investigates Death Of Newborn On Carnival Ship

PORT CANAVERAL (CBSMiami/AP) – The FBI has launched an investigation after a newborn was found dead on a ship owned by Miami-based Carnival Cruise Line.

The Carnival Dream returned to Port Canaveral on Saturday. In an email to the Associated Press, FBI Special Agent Dave Couvertier wrote that their Evidence Response Team was activated and that they were working with port authorities to investigate the matter.

"We received preliminary information of a deceased newborn on the vessel (the Dream) and we are investigating the matter," Couvertier wrote. "We have been coordinating with Carnival Cruise Line which has been fully cooperative."

Florida Today reported that an employee of the ship found the body of the newborn in a guest cabin. The newspaper reported that Carnival officials said the cruise line informed authorities in St. Maarten and that the mother, a 20-year-old U.S. passenger, was detained.

Couvertier said he understands that the mother is not from Florida and has not returned to the U.S.

"Due to the international and jurisdictional aspects we are still working on obtaining facts and specific details about the incident," the agent wrote.

Messages left for Carnival by the AP weren't immediately returned.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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