MEDIA RELEASE: March 7, 2024:

Recaptured Prisoners Charged with Capital Murder and other Serious Offences – Remanded

Ron Mitchell, 30 years old, Unemployed, Atiba Stanisclaus, 25 years old, Farmer and Trevon Robertson, 23 years old, Unemployed, all of Paradise, St. Andrew, were jointly charged with two counts of Capital Murder by intentionally causing the death of Ralph Hendry and Kathleen Brandel, Citizens of the United States of America. They were also charged for the offences of Escaping Lawful Custody, Housebreaking, Robbery, and two counts of Kidnapping. Additionally, Atiba Stanislaus, was charged with one count of rape.
All three made their first court appearance at St. George’s Magistrate’s Court on Thursday 7th March 2024, and were remanded to His Majesty’s Prison.
They are scheduled to be brought back to court on Wednesday 27th March 2024.

Update from CSSN March 4, 2024:

Officials in both Grenada and SVG have declared the 2 missing cruisers as likely deceased, but have not recovered their bodies. A magistrate in St. Vincent and the Grenadines today ordered that the three Grenadian fugitives who are suspected of murdering the 2 cruisers after escaping from a police station in St. George’s, Grenada be repatriated. They had all been charged and plead guilty to immigration violations in SVG. No additional charges were being brought against the three men in SVG.

Update February 27, 2024:

Statement from the family of Ralph Hendry and Kathleen Brandel, shared by the Salty Dawg Sailing Association.

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 on-going search led by the St. Vincent Coast Guard.

We are coordinating with the United States Embassy, the governments of St. Vincent and Grenada, as well as other officials of the United States government, as they continue their work on this on-going investigation into the alleged crimes committed by these three suspects currently held in custody by Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force.

We would like to say a few words about Kathy and Ralph that we wish all to know. 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. 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. 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 – that’s who Ralph and Kathy were and that’s how they will be remembered in our hearts.

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. So many people have reached out with love and encouragement, sharing stories and anecdotes of their memories of Ralph and Kathy, and those stories are what we want them to be remembered by. 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.

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.

With heavy hearts,

Nick Buro – Son of Kathy Brandel
Bryan Hendry – Son of Ralph Hendry

Update February 24, 2024:

The vessel has been identified as SV Simplicity, crewed by US sailors Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel.  They were members of the Salty Dawg Sailing Association which has released a statement from the family of the missing sailors.  Bryan Hendry:  Statement from the Family

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Incident Report – Source:  CSSN

DATE:  2024-02-18 22:00

LOCATION:  Grenada – Grenada – Grande Anse

EVENT:  Assault

HAND: 1

STOLEN ITEMS:   Personal Items and Dinghy – Active Crime Scene in Hands of Police

SECURED: Unknown

DETAILS:

A cruising catamaran that had been anchored off Grand Anse, Grenada, was found poorly anchored with a shredded jib off the coast of Wallilabou, St. Vincent on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.

Upon inspection it was found that the yacht had been ransacked, and it was apparent a violent act had taken place. Copious amounts of blood were found in the master stateroom, and the two owners were missing. Also missing (later recovered) was the yacht’s dinghy. Many personal items were also missing. Passports found onboard allowed authorities to make contact with the victims’ emergency contact.

Three (3) suspects were taken into custody in St. Vincent on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 21.

The three were previously being held in custody in Grenada on charges including robbery with violence, rape, attempted rape, indecent assault and causing harm. They escaped from their holding cell in Grenada on Sunday, February 18, the same day the yacht’s AIS track moved from Grenada to St. Vincent between 2200HRS Sunday night, February 18, and 1500HRS Monday, February 19.

The Royal Grenada Police Force has issued a press release that indicates they are working with their SVG counterparts and have sent investigators to the yacht which is now considered a crime scene and being held by the SVG Coast Guard.

Although this investigation is in its early stages, there is grave concern about the welfare of the owners.

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Noonsite Editor’s Note:

The Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) played an instrumental part in finding the missing yacht after they were contacted via phone by a family representative and asked to help. A number of SSCA Cruising Station Hosts in the area worked together to assist in finding the yacht and continue to assist family members with temporary housing while the investigation is on going. The SSCA comment, “We are certain this tragedy will lead to methods to better alert of local situations in the future, for maritime cruisers, fishermen and others.”

The program to raise funds to help the family deal with a badly damaged boat, travel, legal, funeral and so many other expenses that grow out of a tragedy of this magnitude is going well and if you are inspired to contribute, follow this link.