Couple presumed dead after Grenada jail escapees hijack yacht and 'copious amounts of blood' found

Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel

An American couple has disappeared in the Caribbean under mysterious circumstances, allegedly involving three escaped prisoners who commandeered their yacht to island-hop before being recaptured by authorities.

Ralph Hendry and his wife, Kathy Brandel, vanished from their yacht, Simplicity, while it was docked in the waters of Grenada, a southern Caribbean nation, as reported by Hendry's sister, Suellen Desmarais.

While police have not officially confirmed the couple's identity or nationality, they are actively investigating the incident. Desmarais recounted that the last sighting of Hendry and Brandel was by a neighbor at the dock on Sunday afternoon, who observed them entering a restaurant. However, when the neighbor woke up at 6:30 a.m. the next morning, the Simplicity had vanished.

According to Desmarais, the couple had been in Grenada for about two weeks, departing a week earlier than planned. The Royal Grenada Police Force disclosed that the yacht had become the target of three alleged criminals: Ron Mitchell, Trevon Robertson, and Abita Stanislaus, all from St. Andrew, Grenada. These individuals had escaped from police custody after being arrested on Sunday, charged with robbery with violence, with Mitchell facing additional charges of rape, attempted rape, and indecent assault.

Ron Mitchell, 30, Trevon Robertson, 19, and Abita Stanislaus, 25

The fugitives reportedly utilized the yacht to flee to a neighboring Caribbean country, where they were eventually apprehended by authorities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday. Grenada Police are investigating leads suggesting that the couple aboard the yacht may have been harmed during the ordeal.

The Salty Dawg Sailing Association, to which the couple belonged, stated that a concerned individual boarded the abandoned yacht off a beach in St. Vincent, finding it empty and showing signs of possible violence. Bob Osborn, president of the SDSA, extended condolences to the families and pledged assistance, expressing shock at the unprecedented nature of the incident.

Desmarais revealed that the couple, who resided on their boat, had been sailing a familiar route for several years, starting from Virginia, stopping in Massachusetts, visiting Florida to see family, and then heading south to explore the Caribbean islands.

Hendry and Brandel's two children, along with Desmarais' son, have traveled to St. Vincent and the Grenadines to aid in the search efforts. Desmarais remains hopeful, asserting, "Until they find a body, they're still alive."