Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry: Escaped inmates who killed an American couple while sailing in the Caribbean charged with murder

SAINT GEORGE'S, GRENADA: The three escaped prison inmates responsible for claiming the lives of an American couple who disappeared while sailing in the Caribbean last month have now been charged, CBS News reports. 

On Thursday, March 7, Ron Mitchell, Atiba Stanisclaud, and Trevon Robertson were all charged with two counts of capital murder for “intentionally causing” the deaths of Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel, the Royal Grenada Police Force announced. The statement added that the trio appeared in court for the first time Thursday, March 7, and were remanded to prison. 

The defendants reportedly hijacked Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry's boat

The three men are accused of escaping from a police holding cell on February 18, the very same day that Hendry and Brandel were last seen near their docked catamaran “Simplicity” in St George’s, Grenada. The escapees are thought to have hijacked the boat while Hendry and Brandel were on board.

Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry are believed to have been thrown overboard

The Virginia couple, who lived on their boat during the winter, are believed to have been thrown overboard while the suspects sailed to St Vincent, authorities said. Blood was found on the boat, but the couple’s bodies have not been recovered.

“Several items were strewn on the deck and in the cabin and a red substance that resembled blood was seen on board,” Royal St Vincent and Grenadines Police Force official Junior Simmons said at the time, adding “There was no discovery of bodies on board the yacht.”

When were the defendants arrested?

All three men were arrested in St Vincent on February 21, as per the outlet and were deported back to Grenada on Monday, March 6. In addition to the murder charges, the suspects were each charged with escaping lawful custody, housebreaking, robbery, and two counts of kidnapping, police said. Stanislaus, 25, was also hit with one count of rape.

Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry were remembered as 'veteran cruisers'

Hendry and Brandel spent most of their time sailing up and down the east coast. They were remembered by the Salty Dawg Sailing Association as “veteran cruisers” who participated in the Caribbean Rally from Virginia to Antigua last year, CBS noted.

“We live in a world that at times can be cruel, but it’s also a world of profound beauty, wonder, adventure, love, compassion, caring, and faith,” the couple’s children wrote in a statement last week.

“Our parents encompassed all those values and so much more. If we have learned anything from this tragic event, it’s that we know they left this world in a better place than it was before they were born,” they added.