Police in Grenada have three escaped prisoners in custody and they believe a retired Alexandria couple is dead after a violent confrontation on their catamaran between Grenada and St. Vincent.
Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel have not been found.
It’s believed they were thrown overboard from their yacht, Simplicity, which was found abandoned Wednesday off the coast of St. Vincent. On board, the boat had been trashed and blood found, family members said.
“Information suggests that while traveling between Grenada and St. Vincent, they disposed of the occupants,” said Don McKenzie, commissioner of the Royal Grenada Police Force, during a news conference.
In an interview with NBC4, the couple’s sons said they are in shock. Their parents had been married 27 years. They described their parents as always making people feel as though they were part of the family.
Hendry and Brandel typically spend winters in Fort Pierce, Florida, but this winter they were sailing the Caribbean. The two were “veteran cruisers” who helped build the Salty Dawg Sailing Association, the group said. Fellow cruisers had been searching for the couple, but the couple’s sons asked them to stand down.
“We also want to applaud the St. Vincent authorities for their quick actions in securing Simplicity and their brave, swift response that led to the apprehension of three dangerous fugitives. We greatly appreciate the coordination of the St. Vincent and Royal Grenadian Police forces and Coast Guards in investigating these events,” an update from sons Bryan Hendry and Nick Buro said.
The three men in custody have not yet been charged in connection with the couple’s disappearance. They have pleaded guilty to immigration-related charges and will be sentenced in March.
Police identified them as Ron Mitchell, 30; Trevon Robertson, 19; and Abita Stanislaus, 25. They were from Paradise, St. Andrew.
Feature image courtesy NBC4
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