SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Authorities within the japanese Caribbean are scouring waters within the area in hopes of discovering a missing U.S. couple who have been aboard their catamaran Simplicity greater than every week in the past when police say it was hijacked by three escaped prisoners from Grenada.
Police have mentioned that Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel are presumed dead. The seek for them started on Feb. 21 after somebody found their catamaran deserted on the shores of St. Vincent and alerted authorities.
Police say the three prisoners escaped from a police station on Feb. 18 and hijacked the catamaran a day later. Authorities mentioned the prisoners then illegally entered the southwest coast of St. Vincent on Feb. 19 and docked the boat. Two days later, the three males have been arrested alongside the island’s northwest coast.
Right here’s what to know concerning the case:
It’s unclear why the escaped prisoners hijacked the couple’s catamaran, however it was moored at Grand Anse seaside, close to to the police station the place the three males escaped.
Police consider the lads hijacked the catamaran with the couple aboard after which allegedly threw them into the water whereas touring to St. Vincent, which is positioned north of Grenada.
They’ve famous that there have been indicators of violence aboard the catamaran.
Police in Grenada have recognized the escaped prisoners as Trevon Robertson, a 19-year-old unemployed man; Abita Stanislaus, a 25-year-old farmer; and Ron Mitchell, a 30-year-old sailor.
All have been charged a few months in the past with one depend of theft with violence. Mitchell additionally was charged with one depend of rape, three counts of tried rape and two counts of indecent assault and inflicting hurt.
Vannie Curwen, Grenada’s assistant police commissioner, has mentioned the lads had been positioned in a holding cell fairly than in jail, as a result of a decide hadn’t but dominated whether or not they could be launched on bail.
The Salty Dawg Crusing Affiliation has described Brandel and Hendry as veteran cruisers and longtime members who have been “warm-hearted and succesful.” It famous that Brandel served on the affiliation’s board for 2 years.
The affiliation mentioned the couple had sailed their boat within the 2023 Caribbean Rally from Hampton, Virginia, to Antigua and deliberate to spend the winter cruising the japanese Caribbean. A GoFundMe donation web page acknowledged that Brandel had turn into a first-time grandmother.
Nick Buro, Brandel’s son, and Bryan Hendry, Hendry’s son, mentioned in a press release Tuesday that they have been “extremely saddened” to listen to that the couple was presumed useless, however added that they continue to be optimistic concerning the ongoing search.
“Whereas the tip of their life could have been darkish, they introduced gentle, and that gentle won’t ever be extinguished from the hearts and minds of the individuals who knew, liked and cared so deeply about them,” they mentioned.
Police in Grenada and St. Vincent have offered restricted details about the case of the lacking couple, noting that the investigation is ongoing, although they’ve mentioned the couple is presumed useless.
Authorities haven’t but shared any particular proof linking the three males to the couple’s disappearance. St. Vincent police say the lads have been cooperating within the investigation.
The boys pleaded responsible this week to immigration-related prices, and are scheduled to be sentenced on these counts in early March.
Authorities haven’t mentioned whether or not prosecutors in St. Vincent or Grenada would pursue the case involving the couple.
Grenada Police Commissioner Don McKenzie mentioned the lawyer generals and prosecutors on each islands “are in discussions.”
In the meantime, Grenada police despatched a staff of 5 officers to assist with the investigation in close by St. Vincent.
Police in Grenada have launched an investigation into how the lads have been capable of escape from their holding cell.
McKenzie has mentioned the police station ought to have been safe sufficient to forestall such an escape, and that authorities are trying into whether or not it was a “system failure” or a “slip up.”
McKenzie has mentioned no officers have resigned or been disciplined, though one supervisor on the station has been transferred to a different location “to make sure an intensive investigation on this matter.”
