Cruise anniversary turned deadly when wife asked for divorce

The US mum allegedly murdered by her husband on a cruise ship had just told him she wanted a divorce, according to new details that have emerged about the 39-year-old’s shocking death.

Kristy Manzanares, a real estate agent from Utah, died on an Emerald Princess cruise on Tuesday July 25 following a loud argument with husband Kenneth, that disturbed nearby passengers.  

The mother of three was found inside her cabin at around 9pm with a severe head wound and was pronounced dead at the scene by the ship's medical personnel.

Upon an emergency docking at Juneau, the 39-year-old man was charged by Alaskan authorities with the murder of his wife, and faces court on August 10. 

Their two daughters and extended family joined them on the week-long trip from Seattle to Alaska, in celebration of their 18th wedding anniversary.

While the family report no knowledge of marital trouble between the two, they said cracks started to show when Kenneth became argumentative at dinner on the night of Kristy's death. 

"He had been acting terrible all night," a family member revealed to People, adding that Kristy called for a divorce that night before Kenneth allegedly "snapped" and hit her.