A joint investigation has been launched by the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) and the Royal Grenada Police Force into the disappearance and presumed death of two U.S. citizens.
The couple has been identified as Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel.
Escaped prisoners identified as prime suspects
Reports are that three escaped prisoners have been identified as the main suspects in the case.
The individuals, Ron Mitchell (30), Trevon Robertson (25), and Atiba Stanislaus (23), all from Paradise, Saint Andrew in Grenada, previously escaped from the South St. George Police Station where they were detained on charges of rape, and robbery with violence.
The investigations indicate that after the suspects had escaped, they hijacked a yacht named ‘Simplicity’ that was moored at Grand Anse Beach in Grenada and kidnapped the couple.
The investigation also reveals that while sailing from Grenada the suspects committed several criminal acts, including bodily harm to the couple.
On Monday, February 19, 2024, the suspects, illegally entered the southwestern coast of St Vincent and the Grenadines sometime in the afternoon and docked a yacht off Wallilabou, Anchorage.
Discovery of the Yacht and Manhunt
The saga continued as the yacht was discovered off the southwestern coast of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.
The scene showed clear signs of violence but no trace of the couple onboard.
This discovery prompted an immediate manhunt, culminating in the capture of the suspects in the village of Petit Bordel.
Their arrest has sparked a collaborative effort between Grenadian and Vincentian authorities to unravel the full extent of this tragic incident.
Legal proceedings and continued search
Following their apprehension, the suspects faced immigration-related charges in the Kingstown Magistrate Court, to which they pleaded guilty.
As they await sentencing, the search for Hendry and Brandel continues, with regional security forces and coast guards from both islands intensifying their efforts.
The whereabouts of the couple remain a mystery, with authorities presuming their unfortunate demise.
Community and family response
The RSVGPF has expressed its condolences to the family of the missing couple, acknowledging the difficulty of this time.
A meeting with the Acting Commissioner of Police, Trevor Bailey, provided the families with updates on the investigation’s progress.
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