American father who spent two months in Turks and Caicos jail describes horror of prison after returning home in miracle decision by court
Bryan Hagerich, an American released after illegally bringing ammunition into Turks and Caicos, has described the ordeal as the “darkest days of my life.”
The 39-year-old had arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport earlier in the day on Friday and hugged his children and wife during an emotional reunion. It was the first time he had seen them since his arrest abroad in February after stray bullets were found in a suitcase.
The Pennsylvania father of two was spared a lengthy prison sentence after paying a fine and pleading guilty, while four other Americans remained jailed and indicted on the same charges.
Hagerich, a former professional ballplayer who was once drafted by the Marlins, is the first to return to the US.
He was released after a 12-month suspended sentence, while the four others await sentencing. He called his experience at an unspecified facility in the Caribbean country the “most difficult… of [his] life,” before shedding more light on his ordeal.
Bryan Hagerich — a 39-year-old former baseball player who was arrested in Turks and Caicos earlier this year — spoke to reporters outside Pittsburgh International Airport on Friday after being reunited with family. Here he is interviewed with his wife Ashley
The former Miami Marlins draftee called his experience in an unspecified detention center the “hardest… of” [his] life’, expressing his relief at being back home. The Pennsylvania father of two was caught with ammunition in his luggage but was spared jail time after paying a fine
“The weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders,” Hagerich told reporters at the airport after being reunited with his family.
“I’m so grateful to be here at home with my family and friends, but we have three other Americans in Turks and Caicos,” Hagerich said, referring to one of the perpetrators, who was able to return to the US for medical reasons.
“They were tough, the darkest days of my life,” he continued about his arrest. “You think you’re on this beautiful island, but there’s nothing beautiful about it if you don’t have your family.”
When asked if he would visit again, he joked, “I think we’ll look elsewhere.”
Earlier in the day, a judge sentenced Hagerich to a 52-week suspended prison sentence with a $6,700 fine for possessing weapons and ammunition, under a strict statute aimed at tackling rising gang violence in the Caribbean country.
He waited at least twelve years – a fate that awaited the four others.
Before that, he was held in a facility in Turks and Caicos – a more than two-month ordeal that he called the “hardest time of my life.”
“As a father, as a provider, and to not be that figure in my family’s life, it’s a very hard pill to swallow,” Hagerich said outside the airport.
He faced a minimum of twelve years – a fate that still awaited the four others. Before that, he was held in a facility in Turks and Caicos – an ordeal lasting more than two months that he called the “darkest” of his life
After agreeing to plead guilty, he was given a 52-week suspended prison sentence and a $6,700 fine, leaving his children, Caroline, 6, and Palmer, 4, his wife, and Gisele Fetterman and husband John Fetterman, and citizen could reunite. representative Guy Reschenthaler
Video footage captured the heartwarming moment Hagerich, 39, arrived at the airport and immediately hugged his children and wife as he saw them for the first time since his arrest
“It’s just amazing how, in the space of twelve hours, over twelve years so far. My biggest worry is coaching my kids’ baseball games tomorrow, and that is such a relief.”
He added that the conditions of his detention were “harsh” and called them the “darkest days” of his life.
He gave no further details but said he was grateful to be home and emphasized that other Americans remain stuck on the islands. But he remained positive and said they “will be home soon.”
The other Americans detained are Ryan Watson, 40, of Oklahoma; Sharitta Grier, 45, of Florida; Tyler Wenrich, 31, of Virginia; and Michael Lee Evans, 72, of Texas – all arrested in recent months.
Their arrests are part of the country’s crackdown on firearms following the introduction of stricter gun laws in 2022, which was highlighted with a national alert in September 203.
Wenrich, Watson and Grier are all stuck on the island, while Evans is released on bail and allowed to fly back to the US because he has a serious medical condition.
They were all charged with possession of firearms due to blank bullets allegedly found in their luggage, and all claimed they did not know they were there.
The defense arguments were that they could have been left there after hunting trips or simply by accident, with Hagerich being the only one among them to plead guilty.
Hagerich – seen here Friday with his son – was the only one to get such a deal from a judge after pleading guilty to firearms possession
When asked why he admitted his guilt, he told ABC News in an interview with his wife, Ashley, earlier this month. ‘I am a man of integrity and character. I had no intention of doing this’
Following his sentencing Friday and the time he has served, a Turks and Caicos Islands prime minister said “justice has been served as the law intended.” In response, Hagerich said officials have at least “set a precedent” with his conviction
So he was the only one who could make such a deal with a judge. He issued a 52-month suspended prison sentence on Friday, which was then suspended for 12 months, effectively erasing the sentence.
After paying his fine, he was given his passport and returned to the United States without any problems – something he said ‘absolutely delighted’ him.
When asked why he admitted his guilt, he told ABC News in an interview with his wife, Ashley, earlier this month. ‘I am a man of integrity and character’
“I had no intention of doing this.”
Following his sentencing Friday and the time he has served, a Turks and Caicos Islands prime minister said “justice has been served as the law intended.”
In response, Hagerich said officials have at least “set a precedent” with his conviction.