American couple on hijacked yacht in Grenada possibly thrown overboard, presumed dead
OAN’s Elizabeth Volberding
12:40 PM – Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Authorities announced that the American couple who were believed to have been thrown overboard in the Caribbean Sea after three fugitive convicts took over their catamaran yacht, are “presumed dead.”
On Monday, Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force stated that an American couple are presumed dead after they disappeared from their yacht in Grenada, in which they left behind proof of a bloody trail.
The last known location of Ralph Hendry, 66, and his spouse Kathy Brandel, 71, was near Grand Anse Beach in Grenada on February 18th.
According to Junior Simmons, a spokesman for the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, the couple’s catamaran, called “Simplicity,” was found abandoned in St. Vincent. There were indications of violence on the vessel.
Hendry and Brandel were most likely thrown into the ocean after their vessel was hijacked,
“Based on the investigation thus far, it is presumed that Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel are deceased,” Simmons said in a video statement on Monday.
Don McKenzie, the commissioner of Royal Grenada Police, added that he is sending his “condolences” to the families of the two American boaters, who were most likely “disposed of” at sea by escaped inmates. According to McKenzie, there is a “low probability” that Henry and Brandel are still alive.
On February 18th, three offenders broke out of custody and “commandeered” the couple’s boat before sailing north. According to police, the escapees boarded the yacht while it was parked in the Grenadan region of St. George.
“They headed to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Information suggests that while traveling between Grenada and St. Vincent, they disposed of the occupants,” McKenzie explained to the press.
The suspects, who have since been arrested, are being examined for multiple criminal acts, such as “bodily harm to the couple,” according to Simmons.
The Royal Grenada Police Force identified the escaped prisoners as Ron Mitchell, 30, Trevon Robertson, 19, and Abita Stanislaus, 25.
In December 2023, all three of the men were taken into custody and charged with one count of violent robbery. According to authorities, Mitchell was also accused with two charges of indecent assault and causing damage, three counts of attempted rape, and one crime of rape.
According to McKenzie, the police have opened an inquiry into the escape and are trying to determine if there was a “slip up” or “a system failure.” The police holding station where the three individuals were being kept provides “sufficient safety to prevent an incident like that (from) occurring,” he said, adding that “all aspects of that investigation are on the table.”
According to Simmons, the three men entered a plea of guilty to four counts each of immigration-related offenses when they appeared in court on Monday in St. Vincent. One of the counts involved the men entering the island without a passport, making them “prohibited immigrants.”
A sentencing hearing is set for March.
The couple’s relatives created a GoFundMe page that describes Hendry and Brandel as “seasoned sailors who lived on their beloved catamaran.” According to their GoFundMe page, the couple sailed during their retirement.
“This heartbreaking tragedy has left not only the sailing community, but also their families, shattered,” the GoFundMe page reads, adding that Brandel had welcomed her first grandchild recently.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
The latest phone outage sparks concern over a national cyber-attack which could hit our nation sooner than we think.
Joe Biden could have a tough time winning Michigan’s primary, as Democrats could vote uncommitted.
Utah Senate Candidate Trent Staggs lays out his plan to drain the swamp and solidify the Republican Party around Donald Trump.
with Jack Hibbs
Bitcoin hit a two-year high on Tuesday, on track for its biggest two-day rally this year.
February 27, 2024 – 3:08 AM PST (Reuters) – Buoyed by the successful launch of U.S. bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), asset managers are lining…
Streaming subscriber growth in the U.S. is showing signs that the boom might be over for the industry.
Microsoft announced principles to foster innovation and competition as a market leader in AI.
rnrn
What steps are the authorities taking to bring justice to the victims and their families, as well as to enhance security protocols in the region’s waters
Presumed Dead: American Couple Vanishes After Yacht Hijacking
Authorities have announced that an American couple, who were believed to have been thrown overboard in the Caribbean Sea after three fugitive convicts took over their catamaran yacht, are “presumed dead.”
On February 18th, Ralph Hendry, 66, and his spouse Kathy Brandel, 71, disappeared from their yacht near Grand Anse Beach in Grenada. The Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force stated that evidence of a bloody trail was left behind on the vessel.
According to Junior Simmons, a spokesman for the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, the couple’s catamaran, named “Simplicity,” was found abandoned in St. Vincent, with signs of violence onboard.
Based on the investigation thus far, it is presumed that Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel are deceased,” Simmons said in a video statement on Monday. Don McKenzie, the commissioner of Royal Grenada Police, added his condolences to the families of the two American boaters, who were most likely “disposed of” at sea by escaped inmates. According to McKenzie, there is a “low probability” that Hendry and Brandel are still alive.
The escapees boarded the couple’s boat while it was parked in Grenada, sailing north to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It is believed that they threw Hendry and Brandel into the ocean during the journey. The suspects have since been arrested and are being examined for multiple criminal acts, including bodily harm to the couple.
The escaped prisoners have been identified as Ron Mitchell, 30, Trevon Robertson, 19, and Abita Stanislaus, 25. In December 2023, all three were taken into custody and charged with violent robbery, with Mitchell facing additional charges of indecent assault, causing damage, attempted rape, and rape.
The police have opened an inquiry into the escape and are trying to determine if there was a “slip up” or “system failure.” The holding station where the escapees were being kept is said to provide sufficient safety, and all aspects of the investigation are being thoroughly examined.
A sentencing hearing for the three men is set for March. Meanwhile, the relatives of Hendry and Brandel have created a GoFundMe page to support them. The couple, described as “seasoned sailors,” spent their retirement sailing on their beloved catamaran.
This tragic incident highlights the dangers that can be associated with sailing in remote areas and the importance of security measures to protect against such unlawful activities. The authorities are actively working to bring justice to the victims and their families, while also evaluating and strengthening the security protocols in the region’s waters.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...