American Couple Believed Dead After Their Boat Was Hijacked in the Caribbean

Stacey Ritzen
·2 min read

A retired couple from the United States are missing and believed to be dead after their boat was hijacked by three escaped prisoners while sailing off Grenada, authorities said Monday.

Ralph Hendry, 66, and Kathy Brandel, 71, both experienced cruisers, had made the trip from Virginia to spend the winter in the Caribbean when they went missing on Feb. 19. The couple, who had been married for 27 years, had sold their Alexandria, VA home in 2013 and lived full-time on their boat.

The yacht, named Simplicity, was discovered anchored and abandoned off a beach on the south coast of St. Vincent two days later on Feb. 21 by a member of the Salty Dawg Sailing Association, of which they were also members. The skipper who located Simplicity noted that the owners were not on board and "found evidence of apparent violence," according to a news release.

The Royal Grenada Police Force confirmed in a press conference on Monday that three prison escapees, Trevon Robertson, 19; Abita Stanislaus, 25; and Ron Mitchell, 30, made their getaway after hijacking the catamaran. The trio were captured and taken into custody on Feb. 21, the same day the boat was located.

"Information suggests that, while traveling between Grenada and St. Vincent, they disposed of the occupants," said Commissioner Don McKenzie of the Royal Grenada Police Force. "We have nothing conclusive to say that the individuals are dead."

"What I can say to the family is my condolences and we are still hoping for what I consider a positive outcome, which is we still have the hope that our worst-case scenario will not be a reality," McKenzie added.

Brandel's son, Nick Buro, told NBC News that he remains hopeful that his mother and stepfather could still be alive.

"They wanted to see the world. They wanted to experience life," Buro said. "They wanted to see what the world had to offer outside of their small window of living in one place and being mobile and being able to have a different adventure every day, that’s like the definition of living."