Retired Virginia couple presumed dead after three inmates from Grenada jail escaped and stole their catamaran as ‘copious amounts of blood’ found in their bedroom
An American couple is feared dead after three prisoners who escaped from custody in Grenada hijacked their yacht.
Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel were sailing on their catamaran yacht ‘Simplicity’ and are presumed dead after the incident last Sunday.
The couple, from Virginia, was sailing around the Caribbean island and was docked near Saint George when it was captured.
The suspects, Trevon Robertson, Ron Mitchell and Atiba Stanislaus, were being held at the South Saint George Police Station on the island when they escaped.
According to the Saint Vincent timesPolice believe the trio hijacked the yacht and murdered the couple before traveling to St. Vincent.
Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel were sailing on their catamaran yacht ‘Simplicity’ and are presumed dead after the incident last Sunday
The couple, from Virginia, had been sailing around the Caribbean island and had Simplicity docked at Saint George when it was captured
AIS data shows the ship left Grenada from Grand Anse Beach around 10pm before being discovered the following Wednesday.
The outlet reported that it was found with bloodstains on the inside, but no sign of the couple.
Local police released a statement on Thursday confirming that the three refugees had been arrested.
RSVG police said: “Three male prisoners who escaped the lawful custody of police in Grenada have been recaptured by police in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
‘The escapees, identified as Ron Mitchell, 30, Trevon Robertson, 25, and Atiba Stanislaus, 23, were recaptured during an operation by members of the Narcotics and Rapid Response Units in the northwestern village on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at approximately 4:35 p.m. Petit Bordel.
“The three men were in police custody in Grenada on charges of rape, theft with violence and other serious crimes.
“Two other Grenadian nationals were also arrested during the operation.”
The couple were part of the Salty Dawg Sailing Association and said a cruise shipman found Simplicity abandoned on a beach.
The suspects, Trevon Robertson, Ron Mitchell and Atiba Stanislaus, seen here, were being held at the South Saint George Police Station on the island when they escaped
According to the association, the person boarded the boat and found signs of apparent violence.
They added that they had spent the winter cruising the eastern Caribbean after sailing from Hampton, Virginia, to Antigua.
Bob Osborn, SDSA President, said: ‘This is a very disturbing event and the details have still not been confirmed by authorities, but this appears to be a tragic event – our hopes and prayers are with Ralph and Kathy and the family who loves them.
“I have spoken to the families and offered our deepest condolences and our assistance in any way possible.
“In all my years of sailing the Caribbean, I’ve never heard of anything like this.”
According to a LinkedIn profile, Hendry was the founder of an asset management group, having previously worked for Citi Bank.