A Virginia woman was raped before she and her husband were killed and thrown from their yacht into the sea by a trio of escaped convicts, authorities say.
Kathleen Brandel and her husband Ralph Hendry were on the trip of a lifetime through the Caribbean when their yacht was hijacked and they were murdered.
Ron Mitchell, Atiba Stanisclaus and Trevon Robertson, who escaped from prison in Grenada, have been formally charged with their kidnapping and murder.
Now Granada police have confirmed that Stanisclaus is also accused of raping Brandel before her death.
The trio made their first court appearance Thursday at St. George’s Magistrate’s Court in Grenada and have also been charged with escaping lawful custody, burglary, theft and kidnapping. They are scheduled to appear in court on March 27.
Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel (pictured) were sailing around the Caribbean island and were docked near Saint George’s when their catamaran was taken on February 18. Police fear the couple may have been murdered by three men who escaped from a prison in Grenada.
Ron Mitchell, Trevon Robertson and Atiba Stanisclaus (pictured) have each been charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Ralph Hendry and Kathleen Brandel
It was not initially clear whether Stanisclaus’ rape charge was related to the case, but police told DailyMail.com: ‘Atiba Stanisclaus was charged by Grenadian police with one count of raping Kathy Brandel.
“I believe he is also facing a further rape charge arising from a separate incident in Grenada.”
The victims’ bodies have not yet been recovered, but information suggests the suspects “disposed of the occupants” while traveling between Grenada and St. Vincent, about 80 miles away.
The men had escaped from prison where they were charged with entering the country by boat and disembarking without the permission of the immigration officer, entering without a passport, entering at a place other than the official port of entry and countries as a banned immigrant.
They were being held at South Saint George’s police station on the island when they escaped and are believed to have killed the couple before traveling to St Vincent.
Hendry and Brandel had been living on their yacht, Simplicity, since 2013 after deciding to sell their house and most of their belongings to buy a boat.
They spent most of their time in Florida, but would travel to Rhode Island during hurricane season. This winter was the first time the couple sailed to the Caribbean.
Although Brandel “worked her whole life” and has since retired, Brandel’s son Nick Buro said Hendry – who is in the financial services industry – had “continued to work from the boat.”
The couple, who were lifelong sailors and married for 27 years, have been able to travel to “many parts of the world” thanks to their boating lifestyle and lived a “life full of joy and love.”
The couple, who were lifelong sailors and married for 27 years, have been able to travel to “many parts of the world” thanks to their boating lifestyle and lived a “life of joy and love.” Pictured together: Hendry and Brandel
Hendry and Brandel, (pictured), who are in their sixties, live aboard the ship, named ‘Simplicity’, and enjoyed a unique trip they had been planning for twelve years
Bryan Hendry, Hendry’s son, revealed that his parents “just wanted to immerse themselves in different communities and share love and spread joy.”
Buro confirmed shortly after the incident that the boat had been ‘looted’ and that it was a violent ‘altercation’
Buro previously shared that the family “hoped” his parents would be found, but evidence on their boat shows that “they were probably injured.”
“The boat itself was looted and everything was strewn throughout the cabin, so it was clear there was an altercation on the boat,” he told CNN, adding: “We are doing our best to get answers. ‘
He revealed that the family was concerned “that there could be a possibility that they are not with us,” which likely turned out to be true.
The couple was sailing on their catamaran yacht ‘Simplicity’ and enjoying a unique journey when the incident occurred
Brandel’s son Nick Buro revealed that the family was concerned “that there could be a possibility that they are not with us,” which unfortunately turned out to be true
The boat was found 85 nautical miles from where the couple was last seen
Two of three murder suspects hide their faces with paper in the back of a pickup truck after leaving court. The person in the middle is another inmate being transported who is not related to the case
He said his mother and stepfather were “super careful” and that “safety was their top priority” wherever they traveled. He suspects that the “unfortunate” and “horrific” event probably “came out of nowhere” for them.
AIS data shows the ship left Grenada from Grand Anse Beach around 10pm before being discovered the following Wednesday.
The St Vincent Times reported that the boat was found with bloodstains on the inside, but no sign of the couple.
‘Large amounts of blood were discovered in the main cabin. Many personal belongings were also lost.
Passports discovered on board allowed police to contact the victims’ emergency contacts,” said a security report filed with Caribbean Security and Safety Net.