A school teacher accused of killing his wife while on a luxurious Mexican cruise allegedly told investigators that he killed her "with his bare hands," according to court documents filed late Friday.
Robert John McGill, 55, of Los Angeles, "stated he killed his wife in the bathroom of their cabin with his bare hands," FBI Special Agent James B. Stinnett wrote in a probable cause affidavit. The document was attached to a criminal complaint charging McGill with one count of murder in the death of his wife, Shirley McGill.
Calls to McGill's attorney were not immediately returned. At his court appearance earlier in the day, she declined to comment on the case.
U.S. District Magistrate William McCurine Jr. entered a plea of not guilty on McGill's behalf, as is common practice in federal court at initial appearances.
McGill was distraught during the brief hearing and argued with federal public defenders about whether he could make a statement to the court as his family members sobbed in the gallery. He appeared without handcuffs and wore a white jumpsuit.
"They're suffering now," McGill was heard saying as he gestured to his family. "I don't think it is for the best. I think they are suffering and need to hear from me."
"That's putting more financial burden on top of the pain and horror that I've caused this family," he added before the hearing resumed.
It wasn't immediately clear to what McGill was referring.
McGill's family, including two adult sons, declined to comment after the hearing, as did Assistant U.S. Attorney Joanna Curtis.
McGill is charged with killing his wife on Tuesday, which was also his 55th birthday, as the Carnival Elation cruise ship steamed home after a stop in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Shirley McGill turned 55 just six days before she died. The San Diego County medical examiner's office said she died of strangulation and blunt force injury to the head and torso.
Stinnett noted in the court papers that Robert McGill's knuckles "appeared as if he had been in a fight."
McGill was a divorced father of two sons when he reconnected with Shirley _ an ex-high-school sweetheart _ through the Internet, colleagues said.
Court records show McGill was divorced from his first wife in 1998 after a 2 1/2-year proceeding and then filed for bankruptcy in 2001. Two years later, he married Shirley McGill in Las Vegas.
In bankruptcy papers, McGill listed assets of $50,000 to $100,000 and debts of $100,000 to $500,000. The attorney who handled the case did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
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Associated Press writers Sue Manning, Solvej Schou and Anthony McCartney in Los Angeles and Ken Ritter in Las Vegas contributed to this report.
