Security footage apparently determined the cause of death of Kimberly Burch, the fiancée to Faster Pussycat frontman Taime Downe who fell overboard on an ’80s-themed Royal Caribbean Cruise earlier this week.
The footage, according to media reports and first-hand accounts from Riki Rachtman, former MTV host of “Headbangers Ball” and personal friend, showed the woman jumping. Downe has been cleared of wrongdoing in the matter, and future Faster Pussycat shows set for the cruiseline this weekend have been canceled.
Burch died Monday after falling from the Explorer of the Seas cruise ship but security camera footage reportedly confirmed she jumped rather than fell. Rachtman said in a Facebook post that he was in contact with Downe over the last week.
“There is video of [Burch] committing suicide and Taime was cleared of all charges.”
Rachtman continued, “‘How’s Taime doing?’ Well, how do you think he’s doing? The woman that he’s in love with, that he’s lived with for the past eight years, committed suicide in front of him. And I feel horrible for Kimberly … that she had been in so much pain that she had to commit suicide. I know to be fact that Taime did absolutely nothing wrong, but Taime is going to be scarred for the rest of his life.”
Nassau police boarded the cruise after the incident and their findings – along with the video – cleared Downe of any wrongdoing.
Burch went overboard around 11 p.m. on Monday, according to media reports. The Explorer of the Seas ship was stopped for several hours while multiple boats nearby searched for the missing woman. The search was then taken over by the U.S. Coast Guard and the ship resumed its scheduled route.
Burch’s family confirmed her death on Facebook Tuesday morning.
“It is with broken hearts that we share the sad news that Kimberly Burch has passed away,” her family said in a statement. “She was a beloved daughter, sister, sister-in-law and aunt. She will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved her. We ask for prayers during this time for our family as we try to wrap our minds around this heartbreaking tragedy. We love and miss you Kimberly Burch!”
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988 is a free, 24/7 confidential service that can provide people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, or those around them, with support, information and local resources.
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