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Grenada Prison Escapees Are Charged With Murder of American Couple

The couple, Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel, went missing while sailing off the coast of Grenada.

By Aimee Ortiz

Three men who had escaped from a prison in Grenada and were accused of hijacking an American couple’s yacht to flee have been charged with their murder, the police said on Thursday.

The couple, Ralph Hendry, 66, and Kathy Brandel, 71, went missing while sailing off the coast of Grenada . They had been spending the winter cruising in the Caribbean in their catamaran called Simplicity, which was found abandoned in neighboring St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Feb. 21.

There was no indication in the latest police statement that the bodies of the couple had been recovered as of Thursday.

Trevon Robertson, 23; Atiba Stanisclaus, 25; and Ron Mitchell, 30, face two counts of “capital murder by intentionally causing the death of Ralph Hendry and Kathleen Brandel,” the Royal Grenada Police Force said.

The authorities from police forces in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have given different ages and name spellings for the escapees.

The men were also charged with escaping lawful custody, housebreaking, robbery and two counts of kidnapping; Mr. Stanisclaus is also facing a rape charge, the police said, but no details were offered on those accusations. The three men made their first court appearance on Thursday, and are due back on March 27. The Royal Grenada Police Force did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The police had said in a statement released on Feb. 22 that three men who escaped from a prison in Grenada on Feb. 18 and made their way to St. Vincent using a yacht that had been docked in the St. George area of Grenada.

The prisoners were recaptured on Feb. 21, the same day that the couple’s yacht was found. At the time, the police said they were “currently working on leads that suggest that the two occupants of the yacht may have been killed in the process.”

At a news conference on Feb. 26 , Commissioner Don McKenzie of the Royal Grenada Police Force that “information suggests that, while traveling between Grenada and St. Vincent, they disposed of the occupants.”

During a Feb. 26 news conference , Junior Simmons, superintendent of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, said the joint investigation into the disappearance with Grenada police was ongoing, and he said the couple was presumed dead.

The investigation revealed that while sailing from Grenada, “the suspects committed several criminal acts including bodily harm to the couple,” he said.

The couple, who were married for 27 years, were “veteran cruisers,” according to the Salty Dawg Sailing Association , a nonprofit that brings together a community of sailors engaged in long-distance cruising on their boats. The couple were longtime members, the organization said in a statement, and “they both contributed to building the S.D.S.A.”

In a joint family statement posted on the association’s website on Feb. 27, Nick Buro, the son of Ms. Brandel, and Bryan Hendry, the son of Mr. Hendry, said that “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.”

“Ralph and Kathy lived a life that most of us can only dream of,” the message said. “Sailing the eastern coast of the United States, living on their home Simplicity, making friends with everyone they encountered, singing, dancing and laughing with friends and family — that’s who Ralph and Kathy were and that’s how they will be remembered in our hearts.”

Aimee Ortiz is a reporter on the Investigations desk. She was previously a general assignment reporter on the Express Desk. More about Aimee Ortiz

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Good Friday

Here’s what to know about a US couple missing in the Caribbean

Police in Grenada said the U.S. elderly couple Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel, whose catamaran was hijacked a week earlier, were likely dead. (AP Video: Kenton X. Chance)

The yacht “Simplicity”, that officials say was hijacked by three escaped prisoners with two people aboard, is docked at the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coastguard Service Calliaqua Base, in Calliaqua, St. Vincent, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Authorities in the eastern Caribbean said they were trying to locate two people believed to be U.S. citizens who were aboard the yacht that was hijacked by the three escaped prisoners from Grenada. (AP Photo/Kenton X. Chance)

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Authorities in the eastern Caribbean are scouring waters in the region in hopes of finding a missing U.S. couple who were aboard their catamaran Simplicity more than a week ago when police say it was hijacked by three escaped prisoners from Grenada.

Police have said that Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel are presumed dead . The search for them began on Feb. 21 after someone discovered their catamaran abandoned on the shores of St. Vincent and alerted authorities.

Police say the three prisoners escaped from a police station on Feb. 18 and hijacked the catamaran a day later. Authorities said the prisoners then illegally entered the southwest coast of St. Vincent on Feb. 19 and docked the boat. Two days later, the three men were arrested along the island’s northwest coast.

Here’s what to know about the case:

WHY WAS THE COUPLE TARGETED?

It’s unclear why the escaped prisoners hijacked the couple’s catamaran, but it was moored at Grand Anse beach, near to the police station where the three men escaped.

Police believe the men hijacked the catamaran with the couple aboard and then allegedly threw them into the water while traveling to St. Vincent, which is located north of Grenada.

They have noted that there were signs of violence aboard the catamaran.

WHO ARE THE ESCAPED PRISONERS?

Police in Grenada have identified the escaped prisoners as Trevon Robertson, a 19-year-old unemployed man; Abita Stanislaus, a 25-year-old farmer; and Ron Mitchell, a 30-year-old sailor.

All were charged a couple of months ago with one count of robbery with violence. Mitchell also was charged with one count of rape, three counts of attempted rape and two counts of indecent assault and causing harm.

Vannie Curwen, Grenada’s assistant police commissioner, has said the men had been placed in a holding cell rather than in jail, because a judge hadn’t yet ruled whether they would be released on bail.

WHO IS THE COUPLE?

The Salty Dawg Sailing Association has described Brandel and Hendry as veteran cruisers and longtime members who were “warm-hearted and capable.” It noted that Brandel served on the association’s board for two years.

The association said the couple had sailed their boat in the 2023 Caribbean Rally from Hampton, Virginia, to Antigua and planned to spend the winter cruising the eastern Caribbean. A GoFundMe donation page stated that Brandel had become a first-time grandmother.

Nick Buro, Brandel’s son, and Bryan Hendry, Hendry’s son, said in a statement Tuesday that they were “incredibly saddened” to hear that the couple was presumed dead, but added that they remain optimistic about the ongoing search.

“While the end of their life may have been dark, they brought light, and that light will never be extinguished from the hearts and minds of the people who knew, loved and cared so deeply about them,” they said.

WHY HAVEN’T THE PRISONERS BEEN CHARGED IN THE CASE?

Police in Grenada and St. Vincent have provided limited information about the case of the missing couple, noting that the investigation is ongoing, though they have said the couple is presumed dead.

Authorities haven’t yet shared any specific evidence linking the three men to the couple’s disappearance. St. Vincent police say the men have been cooperating in the investigation.

The men pleaded guilty this week to immigration-related charges, and are scheduled to be sentenced on those counts in early March.

WHO HAS JURISDICTION OF THE CASE?

Authorities haven’t said whether prosecutors in St. Vincent or Grenada would pursue the case involving the couple.

Grenada Police Commissioner Don McKenzie said the attorney generals and prosecutors on both islands “are in discussions.”

Meanwhile, Grenada police sent a team of five officials to help with the investigation in nearby St. Vincent.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Police in Grenada have launched an investigation into how the men were able to escape from their holding cell.

McKenzie has said the police station should have been secure enough to prevent such an escape, and that authorities are looking into whether it was a “system failure” or a “slip up.”

McKenzie has said no officers have resigned or been disciplined, although one supervisor at the station has been transferred to another location “to ensure a thorough investigation in this matter.”

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Police suspect U.S. couple are dead after their boat was hijacked in the Caribbean

The Associated Press

The yacht "Simplicity", that officials say was hijacked by three escaped prisoners with two people aboard, is docked at the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coastguard Service Calliaqua Base, in Calliaqua, St. Vincent, on Friday. Kenton X. Chance/AP hide caption

The yacht "Simplicity", that officials say was hijacked by three escaped prisoners with two people aboard, is docked at the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coastguard Service Calliaqua Base, in Calliaqua, St. Vincent, on Friday.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A U.S. couple whose catamaran was hijacked last week in the Caribbean by three escaped prisoners were presumed dead and likely had been thrown into the ocean, police said Monday.

The accounts by police in Grenada and in St. Vincent and the Grenadines were a blow to those who were independently helping search for Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel and had hoped they were alive.

Don McKenzie, commissioner of the Royal Grenada Police Force, said at a news conference that the three prisoners escaped on Feb. 18 from the South Saint George Police Station. They hijacked the catamaran Simplicity on the following day and then headed to St. Vincent, where they were arrested last Wednesday, he said.

"Information suggests that while traveling between Grenada and St. Vincent, they disposed of the occupants," McKenzie said.

McKenzie said he had no conclusive proof that the couple was dead but cited a "low probability" they were alive.

Jamaica and the Bahamas are pushing back against U.S. travel warnings

Hours later, the main spokesman for the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force posted a video saying that while no bodies have been found, the couple is presumed dead based on the investigation so far.

Police report signs of violence aboard the abandoned boat

The suspects were being investigated for several criminal acts, including "bodily harm to the couple," spokesman Junior Simmons said in the brief recorded statement. There were signs of violence on the couple's boat found abandoned in St. Vincent, he said.

"Several items were strewn on the deck and in the cabin, and a red substance that resembles blood was seen on board," he said.

The nonprofit Salty Dawg Sailing Association has said that Hendry and Brandel were "veteran cruisers" and longtime members of the association, calling them "warm-hearted and capable."

It said the couple had sailed the yacht in last year's Caribbean Rally from Hampton, Virginia, to Antigua, and were spending the winter cruising in the eastern Caribbean.

A son of Hendry and a son of Brandel did not immediately return messages for comment.

A GoFundMe page created to raise money for the couple's family noted that Brandel had recently become a first-time grandmother, and that the sailing community was "shattered" by what happened.

"Kathy and Ralph, experienced adventurers, spent their retirement sailing aboard Simplicity, spending summers in New England and embracing the warmth of Caribbean winters," the page stated.

A massive search for 3 missing American sailors off Mexico coast has been called off

McKenzie, Grenada's police commissioner, said a five-person team was sent to St. Vincent to help with the investigation.

After his brief announcement on Monday, McKenzie and other police officials took questions from local media, including one reporter who asked, "Who is really to be blamed for this massive failure to keep these prisoners under the control of the (Royal Grenada Police Force) which has now resulted in this tragedy?"

The prisoners' escape is being investigated

McKenzie said police have launched an investigation into the escape and are looking into whether it was "a system failure" or a case of a "slip up."

"All aspects of that investigation are on the table," he said, adding that the police holding station where the three men were being held has "sufficient safety to prevent an incident like that (from) occurring."

When the reporter asked why the three men who were arrested remained in a holding cell instead of prison, Vannie Curwen, assistant police commissioner, said the men first had to see a magistrate who would decide whether to grant bail or order them remanded.

The escaped prisoners, Trevon Robertson, a 19-year-old unemployed man; Abita Stanislaus, a 25-year-old farmer; and Ron Mitchell, a 30-year-old sailor; were charged a couple of months ago with one count of robbery with violence. Mitchell also was charged with one count of rape, three counts of attempted rape and two counts of indecent assault and causing harm, police in Grenada said.

Simmons said the three men appeared in court in St. Vincent on Monday and pleaded guilty to four counts each of immigration-related charges, including entering the island as a "prohibited immigrant" with no passport. They are scheduled to be sentenced on those charges in March.

Watch CBS News

Virginia couple missing in Grenada and feared killed after yacht allegedly stolen by escaped criminals

By Nikki Battiste , Tucker Reals

Updated on: February 27, 2024 / 4:48 PM EST / CBS News

Two Americans who planned to spend the winter on a yacht in the Caribbean were officially missing Monday, but feared to have been killed  after their boat was stolen by prison escapees in Grenada. Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry were last seen a week ago near a beach in the small island nation. Police found their sailboat, and captured three escaped criminals whom they believe stole it.

The couple was likely thrown into the ocean and died, police in Grenada said Monday. "Information suggests that while traveling between Grenada and St Vincent, (the suspects) disposed of the occupants," Don McKenzie, police commissioner of the Royal Grenada Police Force, said at a news conference .

Grenadan police were still searching for the couple, who are from Northern Virginia, and they told CBS News' Washington, D.C., affiliate WUSA that no bodies had been found.

Family and friends have described the couple as seasoned sailors who just last year sailed their yacht, named Simplicity, from Hampton, Virginia, to Antigua. They confirmed that the pair had been vacationing in Grenada, where their boat was docked.

In a statement Tuesday, the couple's family said that Hendry and Brandel sailed the eastern coast of the U.S., living on their yacht, "making friends with everyone they encountered, singing, dancing and laughing with friends and family."

"It's just really sad," said longtime friend K.C. McAlpin, who added that Brandel and Hendry had planned to make this their "last grand trip" on Simplicity.

Instead, things may have taken a very tragic turn. The couple went missing on Feb. 19, one day after police in Grenada say three convicted criminals escaped from custody. 

The three men — identified as Ron Mitchell, 30, Trevon Robertson, 19, and Abita Stanislaus, 25 — were arrested in December over an alleged violent robbery. Mitchell also faced one count of rape, three counts of attempted rape and two counts of indecent assault and causing harm.

All three were recaptured Wednesday, Feb. 21. The yacht was also found that same day, Brandel's 71st birthday, abandoned on a beach on the nearby island of St. Vincent.    

The police believe the men hijacked the couple's yacht in Grenada and then traveled to St. Vincent.

Police said they found evidence suggesting the pair were killed, but the Americans' deaths have not been confirmed and the investigation was still in its early stages, they stressed.

"Several items were strewn on the deck and in the cabin, and a red substance that resembled blood was seen on board," said police spokesman Junior Simmons 

Over the weekend, family members released a statement thanking officials and those who had helped gather information, saying it "means so much to us that so many people care for Ralph and Kathy."

"We live in world that at times can be cruel, but it's also a world of profound beauty, wonder, adventure, love, compassion, caring, and faith," the family said on Tuesday. "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."

McAlpin said the couple always made friends easily and he hoped they would be remembered for their big hearts.

"They were just a delightful couple and a real blessing in my life, and the lives of so many other people," he said.

• Missing Persons

Nikki Battiste is a CBS News correspondent based in New York.

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Americans missing from boat in the Caribbean: A timeline

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

It's been over one week since an American couple went missing from their yacht in the Caribbean after three escaped prisoners boarded their boat.

Police said Monday that Ralph Hendry and his wife, Kathy Brandel, are likely dead, however, their bodies have not been found.

Here's how the case has unfolded:

Hendry and Brandel, from Falls Church, Virginia, were last seen alive by their boating neighbor at the dock in Grenada on Feb. 18, according to Hendry's sister, Suellen Desmarais.

The couple, married for 27 years, had been living on their yacht, Simplicity, since they sold their home in 2013.

MORE: American husband and wife missing in Caribbean are likely dead, authorities say

On the morning of Feb. 19, the neighbor said the couple and their boat were gone, according to Desmarais.

Three escaped prisoners allegedly stole the couple's boat before heading to the nearby island of St. Vincent, where they arrived on the yacht on Feb. 19, police said.

The three suspects were arrested on Feb. 21 and are cooperating with investigators, police said.

MORE: American couple missing in Caribbean after fugitives allegedly steal their yacht: Police

On Feb. 26, Junior Simmons, head of the public relations and complaints department at Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, said investigators determined "the suspects committed several criminal acts, including bodily harm, to the couple."

Police processed the scene on the yacht and found signs of violence, Simmons said.

"Several items were strewn on the deck," Simmons said, and in the cabin was "a red substance that resembled blood."

"Based on the investigation thus far it is presumed that Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel are deceased," Simmons said.

Their bodies have not been found.

The three suspects have appeared in a St. Vincent court on immigration-related charges and pleaded guilty, police said. Sentencing was scheduled for March 4, police said.

On Feb. 27, Henry's son, Bryan Hendry, and Brandel's son, Nick Buro, said in a statement, "We are incredibly saddened to hear the news that our parents Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry are now presumed dead. We remain optimistic in the ongoing search."

"Ralph and Kathy lived a life that most of us can only dream of, sailing the eastern coast of the United States, living on their home Simplicity, making friends with everyone they encountered, singing, dancing and laughing with friends and family," the sons said. "We are grateful to have been raised by the strongest people that we will ever know, and we hope that we can follow in their footsteps and strive to be even half as wonderful as them."

"While the end of their life may have been dark, they brought light, and that light will never be extinguished from the hearts and minds of the people who knew, loved and cared so deeply about them," they said. "We are ever hopeful that justice will be served. In honor of Ralph and Kathy, we ask that everyone please take a moment to stop, pray and reflect on how lucky we were to have known them -- hug your loved ones, spend time with your families, and console one another as we all collectively mourn."

Americans missing from boat in the Caribbean: A timeline originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

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Americans hijacked by escaped prisoners likely thrown off yacht. Here's what we know

Owners of the catamaran remain missing and are presumed dead after abandoned boat found covered in blood.

An American couple who spent winters at a Florida marina have disappeared and are presumed dead after their catamaran was found abandoned and covered in blood in St. Vincent.

Ralph Hendry and his wife, Kathy Brandel, were last known to be near Grand Anse Beach, Grenada.

Both Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are listed under a Level 1 travel advisory, according to the U.S. State Department.

A Level 1 travel advisory urges U.S. citizens to take normal precautions in the area.

Other Caribbean islands are more dangerous , with Level 2 and 3 advisories in effect for the Bahamas and Jamaica , respectively.

Here's what we know so far as the investigation continues.

3 prisoners escaped from South St. George Police Station

Don McKenzie, Commissioner of Police for the Royal Grenada Police Force, said during a news conference Feb. 26, three prisoners escaped from the South St. George Police Station on Feb. 18.

The next day, they "commandeered" the yacht Simplicity, which had two occupants on board, Hendry, 66, and his wife, Kathy Brandel, 71. Both are U.S. citizens.

Information suggests the escaped prisoners "disposed" of Hendry and Brandel. The couple were were likely thrown into the ocean and died, police in Grenada said Monday.

“We have nothing conclusive to say that the individuals are dead," McKenzie said. "We still hold out hope that in spite (of) what might be a low probability, that they would turn up alive somewhere.”

The yacht then headed to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where the escaped prisoners were captured on Feb. 21.

Who were the escaped prisoners and what had they been charged with?

According to the Royal Grenada Police Force, the escaped prisoners were:

• Ron Mitchell, 30,
• Trevon Robertson, 19
• Abita Stanislaus, 25.

All three had been charged with one count of robbery with violence.

Mitchell also had been charged with one count of rape, three counts of attempted rape, two counts of indecent assault and causing harm.

Yacht discovered by paddle-boarder near St. Vincent

A sailing captain was paddle-boarding near Saint Vincent when he noticed the yacht with a broken sail, according to People .

When he boarded the Simplicity, he found the deck covered in blood . He also found two passports belonging to Brandel and Hendry, People said.

In an email to an address he found onboard, he told the Salty Dawg Sailing Association, “The ship inside is very messy. “Can you contact them?”

"The good Samaritan contacted the St. Vincent coast guard alerting them of the situation; they in turn notified the local police. The Coast Guard took possession of Simplicity," the Salty Dawg Sailing Association posted on its Facebook page.

Salty Dawg mourns couple's disappearance

On its Facebook page Feb. 24, the Salty Dawg Sailing Association announced, "The Salty Dawg family mourns the disappearance of two of our long term members, Ralph and Kathy of Simplicity. Their family has issued a statement and wish to get the word out as broadly as possible."

Both Brandel and Hendry are veteran cruisers and long-time members of the Salty Dawg Sailing Association from its earliest days.

"Warm hearted and capable, they both contributed to building the SDSA and Kathy sat on the association’s board for two years," the organization said.

Salty Dawg live tracking map showed final anchorage for Simplicity

The Salty Dawg Sailing Association "has a live member’s tracking map where boats can be followed as they cruise and Simplicity’s track shows that Kathy and Ralph were anchored in Grenada and then the boat moved directly to its last anchorage off St. Vincent," the organization said.

'They were the sweetest people': Friend describes meeting couple at Fort Pierce marina

The couple previously had docked their catamaran at the Safe Harbor Harbortown Marina in Fort Pierce.

"They were the sweetest people," Keith Mallamo said in an email to TCPalm. Mallamo said he was friends with the couple when they docked their vessels at the marina in Fort Pierce.

One Christmas, Brandel baked cookies for everyone on the dock, and Hendry was always available to help his fellow sailors, Mallamo said.

Family issues statement

The following statement from Bryan Hendry and Nick Buro was posted on Salty Dawg's Facebook page:

"We want to reach out to the entire cruiser community to express our gratitude for everyone that worked to gather information from eyewitnesses and provide search and rescue support.

"It means so much to us that so many people cared for Ralph and Kathy as friends and fellow cruisers that they are willing to stop and help in whatever way possible.

"Thanks to all this input from this community we are able to develop a timeline of events. For the safety of the cruising community we are asking all cruisers, and anyone that is not affiliated with the officials with presiding jurisdiction, to stand down. The only way we feel this situation could be worse would be if anyone was hurt or endangered trying to conduct searches.

"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."

GoFundMe page set up for Kathy Brandel, Ralph Hendry after 'heartbreaking tragedy'

A GoFundMe page was set up for Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry.

"The funds raised will go towards recovering the vessel and belongings, covering funeral costs, and providing support to the grieving families as they try to comprehend the depth of this tragedy," according to the page set up by Jessica Mause on behalf of Nick Buro, Kathy Brandel's son, and Ralph's son, Bryan Hendry.

"It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we share the devastating news of the senseless act of violence that tragically claimed the lives of husband and wife, Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel.

"Kathy and Ralph were seasoned sailors who lived on their beloved catamaran, Simplicity. Their lives ended in unimaginable tragedy on Sunday, February 19th, off the shores of Grand Anse Beach, Grenada.

"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.

"This heartbreaking tragedy has left not only the sailing community, but also their families, shattered." The GoFundMe page added Kathy Brandel had recently welcomed her first grandchild.

US couple whose yacht was hijacked by prisoners were likely thrown overboard, authorities say

An American couple who was feared dead after their catamaran yacht was hijacked by three escaped prisoners were likely thrown overboard in the Caribbean Sea, authorities said Monday.

Ralph Hendry, 66, and his wife, Kathy Brandel, 71, were last known to be near Grand Anse Beach in Grenada. Their catamaran, named "Simplicity," was found abandoned in St. Vincent and there were signs of violence at the scene, according to Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force spokesperson Junior Simmons.

Although family, friends, and members of the sailing community had hoped the pair was still alive, police in St. Vincent and the Grenadines said Hendry and Brandel were likely thrown into the ocean when 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 Monday .

Don McKenzie, police commissioner of the Royal Grenada Police Force, said at a news conference Monday that the three prisoners escaped on Feb. 18 from the South St. George Police Station. They hijacked the catamaran on the following day and traveled to the nearby island of St. Vincent, where they were arrested last Wednesday, he said.

Police: Prisoners 'disposed' occupants of Simplicity

After escaping from the South St. George Police Station, McKenzie said the three prisoners "commandeered" the catamaran, which had two U.S. citizens on board, Hendry and Brandel. The couple were likely thrown into the ocean and died, police in Grenada said.

“Information suggests that while traveling between Grenada and St Vincent, they disposed of the occupants,” McKenzie said.

McKenzie added that while police have "nothing conclusive" to prove that the couple was dead, he cited a "low probability" they were alive.

The suspects are being investigated for several criminal acts, including "bodily harm to the couple," according to Simmons. Authorities discovered signs of violence on the couple’s boat after it was found abandoned, he said.

"Several items were strewn on the deck and in the cabin, and a red substance that resembles blood was seen on board," Simmons said.

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Police investigating prisoners' escape

According to the Royal Grenada Police Force, the escaped prisoners were identified as Ron Mitchell, 30; Trevon Robertson, 19; and Abita Stanislaus, 25.

All three were arrested and charged in December with one count of robbery with violence. Mitchell also was charged with one count of rape, three counts of attempted rape, and two counts of indecent assault and causing harm, police said.

McKenzie said police have launched an investigation into the escape and are looking into whether it was "a system failure" or a case of a "slip up."

"All aspects of that investigation are on the table," he said, adding that the police holding station where the three men were being held has "sufficient safety to prevent an incident like that (from) occurring."

The three men appeared in court in St. Vincent on Monday and pleaded guilty to four counts each of immigration-related charges, including entering the island as a "prohibited immigrant" with no passport, according to Simmons. They are scheduled to be sentenced on those charges in March.

Simplicity discovered by paddle-boarder near St. Vincent

The Salty Dawg Sailing Association said it was alerted by a cruising skipper about Simplicity, which was found "anchored and abandoned" off a beach on the island of St. Vincent. The association added that its live member’s tracking map showed the vessel anchored in Grenada before it moved to its last anchorage off St. Vincent.

"The good Samaritan had boarded the boat and noted that the owners … were not on board and found evidence of apparent violence," the association said in a statement. 

People reported that a sailing captain was paddle-boarding near St. Vincent when he noticed the catamaran with a broken sail. When he boarded Simplicity, he found the deck covered in blood and two passports belonging to Brandel and Hendry, according to People.

The St. Vincent Coast Guard took possession of Simplicity and local police are investigating with the U.S. Embassy and the Grenada police, according to the association.

Family, sailing community mourns couple's disappearance

According to a GoFundMe page raising money for the couple's families, Hendry and Brandel were "seasoned sailors who lived on their beloved catamaran." The pair spent their retirement sailing, the GoFundMe page states.

"This heartbreaking tragedy has left not only the sailing community, but also their families, shattered," the GoFundMe page states, adding that Brandel had recently welcomed her first grandchild.

The couple had sailed their yacht in last year's Caribbean Rally from Hampton, Virginia, to Antigua, and were spending the winter cruising in the eastern Caribbean, the Salty Dawg Sailing Association said. The association noted that the couple were veteran cruisers and longtime members of the association from its earliest days.

"Warm-hearted and capable, they both contributed to building the SDSA and Kathy sat on the association’s board for two years," the association said.

In a statement from the couple's families on Saturday, they thanked authorities and those who helped gather information.

"It means so much to us that so many people cared for Ralph and Kathy as friends and fellow cruisers that they are willing to stop and help in whatever way possible," the couple's sons, Bryan Hendry and Nick Buro, said.

Travel advisories near the Caribbean

Both Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are listed under a Level 1 travel advisory, according to the U.S. State Department. A Level 1 travel advisory urges U.S. citizens to take normal precautions in the area.

Other Caribbean islands are more dangerous, with Level 2 and 3 advisories in effect for the Bahamas and Jamaica, respectively. The advisory for the Bahamas was issued last month , warning travelers to "exercise increased caution" due to crime in some areas.

A security alert posted by the  U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas also advised U.S. citizens to be "aware that 18 murders have occurred in Nassau since the beginning of 2024." The alert warns that murders have occurred at all hours including in broad daylight on the streets.

Contributing: Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

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Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry haven't been seen since three escaped prisoners boarded their boat in Grenada. WRC's Mauricio Casillas reports. Feb. 26, 2024

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A U.S. couple whose catamaran was hijacked last week in the Caribbean by three escaped prisoners were presumed dead and likely were thrown into the ocean, police said Monday.

The accounts by police in Grenada and in St. Vincent and the Grenadines were a blow to those who were independently helping search for Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel and had hoped they were still alive.

Don McKenzie, police commissioner of the Royal Grenada Police Force, said at a news conference that the three prisoners escaped on Feb. 18 from the South Saint George Police Station. They hijacked the catamaran “Simplicity” on the following day and then headed to St. Vincent, where they were arrested last Wednesday, he said.

“Information suggests that while traveling between Grenada and St Vincent, they disposed of the occupants,” McKenzie said.

McKenzie said he had no conclusive proof that the couple was dead, but cited a “low probability” they were alive.

Hours later, the main spokesman for the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force posted a video saying that while no bodies have been found, the couple is presumed dead based on the investigation so far.

The suspects were being investigated for several criminal acts, including “bodily harm to the couple,” spokesman Junior Simmons said in the brief recorded statement. There were signs of violence on the couple's boat found abandoned in St. Vincent, he said.

“Several items were strewn on the deck and in the cabin, and a red substance that resembles blood was seen on board,” he said.

Video below: Son speaks about missing Virginia couple in Caribbean

The nonprofit Salty Dawg Sailing Association said Hendry and Brandel were “veteran cruisers” and longtime members of the association, calling them “warm-hearted and capable.”

It said the couple had sailed the yacht in last year’s Caribbean Rally from Hampton, Virginia, to Antigua, and were spending the winter cruising in the eastern Caribbean.

A son of Hendry and a son of Brandel did not immediately return messages for comment.

A GoFundMe page created to raise money for the couple's family noted that Brandel had recently become a first-time grandmother, and that the sailing community was “shattered” by what happened.

“Kathy and Ralph, experienced adventurers, spent their retirement sailing aboard Simplicity, spending summers in New England and embracing the warmth of Caribbean winters,” the page stated.

McKenzie, Grenada's police commissioner, said a five-person team was sent to St. Vincent to help with the investigation.

After his brief announcement on Monday, McKenzie and other police officials took questions from local media, including one reporter who asked, “Who is really to be blamed for this massive failure to keep these prisoners under the control of the (Royal Grenada Police Force) which has now resulted in this tragedy?”

McKenzie said police have launched an investigation into the escape and are looking into whether it was “a system failure” or a case of a “slip up.”

“All aspects of that investigation are on the table,” he said, adding that the police holding station where the three men were being held has “sufficient safety to prevent an incident like that (from) occurring.”

When the reporter asked why the three men who were arrested remained in a holding cell instead of prison, Vannie Curwen, assistant police commissioner, said the men first had to see a magistrate who would decide whether to grant bail or order them remanded.

The escaped prisoners, Trevon Robertson, a 19-year-old unemployed man; Abita Stanislaus, a 25-year-old farmer; and Ron Mitchell, a 30-year-old sailor; were charged a couple of months ago with one count of robbery with violence. Mitchell also was charged with one count of rape, three counts of attempted rape and two counts of indecent assault and causing harm, police in Grenada said.

Simmons said the three men appeared in court in St. Vincent on Monday and pleaded guilty to four counts each of immigration-related charges, including entering the island as a “prohibited immigrant” with no passport. They are scheduled to be sentenced on those charges in March.

US couple likely dead after Caribbean boat hijacking, police say

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Missing American Sailing Couple Is 'Presumed' Dead After Boat Found Ransacked in Caribbean: Police

Three men who allegedly escaped jail in Grenada and hijacked the couple’s yacht to sail to St. Vincent have each pleaded guilty to four immigration-related charges

Jessica Mause/GoFundMe

An American couple who'd been sailing in the Caribbean and have been missing for more than a week are presumed dead, though their bodies have not been recovered, authorities said in a Monday press conference .

“Based on the investigation thus far it is presumed Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brendel are deceased," Junior Simmons of the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force said at the press conference.

Simmons also announced that three inmates who broke out of jail around the same time the couple vanished and allegedly made their getaway in their yacht have been re-arrested and are cooperating in the case, according to authorities.

Authorities have recovered evidence "consistent with signs of violence" from the hijacked boat, said Simmons.

Kathy Brandel – a retired real estate agent who would have turned 71 Wednesday – and her husband, Ralph Hendry – a 66-year-old financial advisor who worked from their yacht – had been cruising in Grenada when they suddenly stopped communicating with family on Feb. 18, according to their sons, who have been in touch with PEOPLE since before landing in the Caribbean to search for their parents .

AP Photo/Kenton X. Chance

On Wednesday morning the couple’s SV Simplicity was reported abandoned in St. Vincent — 80 miles from where the couple had last been spotted — and with blood visible on the deck.

“The entire interior of the vessel and its decks were ransacked,” Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard Service Commanding Officer Deon Henry told the Saint Vincent police commissioner in a Feb. 21 internal memorandum obtained by PEOPLE.

Courtesy of Robert Osborn

Bob Osborn, the president of Salty Dawg Sailing Association, which included Brandel and Hendry among their members, said the couple’s disappearance was an anomaly.

“In all my years of cruising the Caribbean, I have never heard of anything like this,” Osborn previously told PEOPLE. “This is not common, but it’s also a very, very big deal.”

Colin Perkel/The Canadian Press via AP

An insider close to the investigation says Grenada – where the couple was last seen cruising – is typically safe but expressed concern that the public was not promptly notified about the Feb. 18 jailbreak. Both Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have a Level 1 travel advisory, the safest level.

Courtesy Nick Buro and Bryan Hendry

The three prison escapees allegedly fled their holding cell at the South St. George Police Station, hijacked the couple's nearby yacht, “disposed of the occupants” and sailed to Saint Vincent where they disembarked, Grenada's Police Commissioner Don McKenzie claimed at a press conference Monday morning.

Those men – Trevon Robertson, 19, Abita Stanislaus, 25, and Ron Mitchell, 30 – who were re-arrested in Saint Vincent Wednesday have not been formally charged in the couple’s disappearance.

Royal Grenada Police Force

However, Simmons said Monday afternoon that the three men had already pleaded guilty to four counts of immigration-related charges connected to illegally entering Saint Vincent by boat. They are scheduled for sentencing on March 4.

The escapees had previously been arrested in connection with a violent robbery in December, Grenada's police force said in a press release last week. 

Mitchell – who worked as a sailor – was also previously charged with one count of rape, three counts of attempted rape, two counts of indecent assault, and causing harm.

A source close to the investigation previously told PEOPLE Friday that two of the men had already confessed to killing the couple.

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A fourth prisoner escaped from the Grenville Magistrate Court last Wednesday, according to police.

Levon Date – charged in the killing of a Canadian citizen in 2023 – escaped the courthouse after pushing past police officers during a requested bathroom break, Grenada's police force alleged at the press conference.

As of Monday morning, Date remains on the run. Police say the escapee should be considered armed and dangerous.

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Police Search For Man Who Never Resurfaced After Jumping Into Biscayne Bay From Yacht

By niko clemmons • published march 18, 2023 • updated on march 19, 2023 at 1:41 pm.

The Miami Police Department has recovered the body of a man who went missing after he jumped into Biscayne Bay from a yacht and didn't resurface.

With the assistance of the Miami Fire Department, Coral Gables and their Marine Patrol Units, Miami police found the body of 21-year-old Enoch Tong in the water just west of the Rusty Pelican, authorities said.

Dive teams were searching for Tong Saturday night after police said he jumped off a yacht or charter boat into Biscayne Bay and started to struggle.

“We do know that his friends did throw life preservers they tried to help him but unfortunately, the current was just too strong,” said Lieutenant Pete Sanchez with City of Miami Fire Rescue.

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Police said Tong went under.

Several agencies began searching for the 21-year-old, including Miami-Dade Police, the U.S. Coast Guard, City of Miami Fire Rescue and Marine Patrol Units.

Now, Lt. Sanchez is offering tips for boaters.

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"We don’t know the circumstances of who they were with or the experience, but always be out with experienced boaters,” Sanchez said. "It’s a very unfortunate situation because someone today has lost their lives when they were just trying to enjoy a beautiful weekend out of the city of Miami."

On the shore, people like Keyla Castillo watched and hoped for a miracle. Castillo owns Raw Bar 2 Go, a food boat on the bay.

"Really sad and people started talking about that happened before,” Castillo said. “People get a lot of partying and it’s sad because that's my customers."

Castillo says this is not the first time she's watched law enforcement search for someone in the water.

"Around two months ago here on the bay it was a lady,” she said. 

Miami Fire Rescue says there were about 13 people on the boat with Tong.

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Man dies after falling from yacht in English Channel during historic race

It is believed the sailor, who is from the Greater Manchester area, was taking part in the Royal Escape Race, a historic yacht race from Shoreham-by-Sea to the Normandy port of Fecamp.

Saturday 27 May 2023 16:10, UK

A man has died after falling off a yacht in the English Channel.

The incident happened in waters off the northwest of France at around 2pm on Friday.

A nearby fishing vessel went to the scene to assist French rescue teams, while the UK Coastguard offered communications support.

Coastguard said the victim - who has not been identified but is from the Greater Manchester area - was taken to a hospital in the port city of Le Havre by a French helicopter.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "Sussex Police were made aware of a man having sadly died in the English Channel after falling from a yacht in French waters in the early hours of Saturday morning.

"The incident is understood to have happened at around 2pm on Friday.

"Police are supporting the coastguard by offering liaison with the man's family and will continue to offer support to the relevant agencies while the full circumstances of the situation are established."

It is reported another sailor from the same vessel was rescued safely by French lifeboat crews.

Yacht club 'deeply saddened'

It is believed the sailor who died was taking part in the Royal Escape Race, a historic yacht race from Shoreham-by-Sea to the Normandy port of Fecamp.

Launched in 1977 to mark the Queen's silver jubilee, it is now among the oldest offshore sailing races in the country.

In a message posted on its Facebook page, Sussex Yacht Club said: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of our fellow sailors yesterday.

"Sussex Yacht Club are working with the police, Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch to assist with their enquiries.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and supporting our sailors at this difficult time."

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Body of missing rock fisherman recovered on NSW North Coast

Police have recovered the body of a missing man believed to have died while rock fishing off the New South Wales north coast.

A 29-year-old man was reported missing on Saturday evening after he failed to return from fishing at Bare Point, north of Wooli.

A land, sea and air search was launched yesterday morning involving police Marine Area Command State Emergency Service, Marine Rescue, Surf Life Saving volunteers, NSW Ambulance and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

Police said a body was found in the water last night about 22 kilometres south of Bare Point near North West Solitary Island.

Investigations are ongoing, but police said initial inquiries suggested the man was not wearing a life-jacket.

Police said they had notified the man's family about the incident. 

The owner of Wooli Fishing Charters, Stan Young, said the news was devastating for Wooli and its coastal surrounds, which are popular destinations for campers and fishers.

"I feel so sad for the family; you never hear of anything happening off the rocks here like this."

Mr Young, who is a fisherman with 30 years' experience in the area, said Bare Point was a well-frequented spot known for catching jewfish. 

"You've got to be wary when you're fishing there, you can never turn your back on waves when you're fishing off the rocks ... it's very hard to do that at night time."

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

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Man rescued from kayak after 12 hours on the water

W ALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - On Friday, NewsChannel 7 is hearing from an Alabama high school football coach who went missing after going kayaking at Grayton Beach in Walton County on Thursday.

The Coast Guard says Chris Smelley, 37, was found two miles off of Grayton Beach. He was still in his kayak at the time. Rescuers say he was in good spirits.

Walton County deputies say strong north winds pushed Smelley about 10-15 miles off Grayton Beach. Nearly 12 hours later, a Coast Guard helicopter detected him using a thermal camera.

They say the dwindling light outside actually helped them locate Smelley. Investigators say Smelley was waving and shouting as they approached him.

The Coast Guard communicated with a boat from the Harbor Docks Restaurant in Destin, and that captain went to pick Smelley up.

Immediately, he Facetimed with his wife and kids. Investigators say they had been waiting at Grayton Beach all day for his safe return.

“Definitely the hardest part was knowing the emotions my wife and kids were going through. They were the main thought in my mind. The main thought in my mind was that it was a wild and crazy day. For me, it was a lot easier than everyone else’s day despite some of the crazy circumstances,” said Smelley.

He was taken to the hospital to be evaluated.

Local News | One man rescued, one still missing after jet…

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Local News | One man rescued, one still missing after jet skis capsize in Anchor Bay

A Chesterfield Township man remained missing after he and a friend fell from their personal watercraft in Lake St. Clair’s Anchor Bay, authorities said late Thursday night.

Jonathan Kloss, 21, of Chesterfield Township, has been missing since 8:45 p.m., according to police. His friend, 19-year-old Hunter Lentine of New Baltimore, was rescued from the water after residents on shore heard his cries for help and pointed first responders his way in the water.

According to Chesterfield Township police Sgt. Ken Anderson, the two were riding their watercraft, commonly known as jet skis, out into the lake from a boat launch at Brandenburg Park on Jefferson Avenue, south of 23 Mile Road.

“The jet skis were located capsized and floating in Anchor bay off Brandenburg Park,” police said in a news release.

The two men reportedly were not wearing personal flotation devices when they were tossed into the freezing water.

The air temperature was 38 degrees, but felt like 33 with the wind factored in, according to the National Weather Service.

The U.S. Coast Guard Station Detroit said in a Twitter post the jet skis were found “one unmanned, one capsized.” The vessels were towed to shore.

A dive team from the Macomb County Sheriff’s Marine Division conducted a search of the area while a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter equipped with a thermal camera flew overhead. The Coast Guard unit returned to shore after being unable to locate any evidence following a lengthy search pattern over the east side of Anchor Bay.

Lentine reportedly was unresponsive when rescuers pulled him from the water. He was transported to a local hospital where he was able to speak to investigators and provide them with a more precise location of the water the men were in.

Anyone with information about Kloss is asked to immediately contact the Chesterfield Township Police Department at 586-949-2322.

The Chesterfield Twp. Police Department is being assisted by the township’s fire department, Ira Township Marine Rescue, U.S. Border Patrol, Algonac City Marine Rescue, Coast Guard, Macomb County Sheriff ‘s Office Marine Division, and Michigan State Police.

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