Virginia couple feared dead as 'copious amounts of blood' found on yacht stolen by escaped convicts
GRENADA, UNITED STATES: Authorities are searching for a missing American couple after their yacht was seized by three escaped prisoners in Grenada on Sunday, February 18.
Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel had docked their catamaran, Simplicity, in Grenada last week and authorities suspect the couple met a tragic end when the trio commandeered the yacht before fleeing to St Vincent.
The couple, who lived on the boat, had been sailing the same route for a number of years, Hendry's sister Suellen Desmarais told ABC News. That route started in Virginia, followed by a stop in Massachusetts, then to Florida, before heading south to island hop in the Caribbean.
Grenada Police said they are "currently working on leads that suggest that the two occupants of the yacht may have been killed in the process."
The escapees -- Trevon Robertson, Ron Mitchell, and Atiba Stanislaus -- had been detained at the South Saint George Police Station on the island before their escape.
Police discovered the abandoned boat with 'copious amount of blood'
According to AIS data, the vessel departed from Grand Anse Beach in Grenada around 10 pm, where the couple had docked for two weeks. As reported by The St Vincent Times, the boat was located with bloodstains inside, yet the couple was nowhere to be found.
A safety report submitted to the Caribbean Security and Safety Net indicated, “Copious volumes of blood were discovered in the master stateroom. Numerous personal belongings were also lost. Passports discovered onboard allowed police to contact the victim’s emergency contacts."
Local authorities released a statement on Thursday confirming the apprehension of the three escapees and the discovery of the abandoned boat.
Three male prisoners were apprehended
Initially, authorities had issued a cautionary alert, advising that the trio might be armed and urging people to approach them with care.
The Royal St Vincent Police Force announced, "Three male prisoners who escaped lawful custody from police in Grenada have been recaptured by police in St Vincent and the grenadines."
The escapees, identified as Ron Mitchell, aged 30, Trevon Robertson, aged 25, and Atiba Stanislaus, aged 23, were captured on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, around 4:35 pm during a joint operation involving members of the Narcotics and Rapid Response Units in the North Western village of Petit Bordel. The trio had been detained by police in Grenada on charges including rape, violent robbery, and other serious offenses.
Additionally, two other Grenadian nationals were taken into custody during the operation. While all individuals faced collective charges of violent robbery, Mitchell faced additional charges including rape, attempted rape, indecent assault, and causing harm.
GoFundMe campaign has been set up for the couple's funeral costs
A GoFundMe campaign has been established by a close family acquaintance to aid in the retrieval of the boat and their possessions, along with covering funeral expenses.
The fundraiser has garnered more than $14,000 in donations thus far. It highlights Kathy and Ralph as experienced sailors who resided aboard their cherished catamaran, Simplicity.
The page continued, “Their lives ended in unimaginable tragedy on Sunday, February 19th, off the shores of Grand Anse Beach, Grenada.”
It added, “Kathy and Ralph, experienced adventurers, spent their retirement sailing aboard Simplicity, spending summers in New England and embracing the warmth of Caribbean winters. Their final voyage with the Salty Dawg Sailing Association crew took an unthinkable turn as Simplicity was found abandoned in St. Vincent, bearing chilling evidence of a violent struggle.”
Hendry and Brandel's two children and Desmarais' son joined the search effort in St Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday. Desmarais said. "Until they find a body, they're still alive."
