Police in Grenada announced on Monday that they believe an elderly U.S. couple aboard their catamaran, which was hijacked by three escaped prisoners, were killed and thrown into the Caribbean Sea. This news came as a blow to those who were independently assisting in the search for Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel, as there had been hopes that they were still alive.
Don McKenzie, the police commissioner of the Royal Grenada Police Force, revealed at a press conference that the prisoners had escaped from the South Saint George Police Station on February 18. After hijacking the catamaran named “Simplicity,” they headed to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where they were arrested on Wednesday. McKenzie stated that the information suggested the hijackers disposed of the occupants while traveling between Grenada and St. Vincent.
Due to the ongoing investigation and limited information available to Grenadian authorities, McKenzie mentioned that he was unable to share much with the public. He added that his discussions with his Vincentian counterpart on the investigation details were minimal. St. Vincent police could not be reached for immediate comment on the matter.
The nonprofit organization Salty Dawg Sailing Association described Hendry and Brandel as “veteran cruisers” and long-standing members of the association, highlighting their warm-hearted and capable nature. The couple participated in last year’s Caribbean Rally from Hampton, Virginia, to Antigua and were spending the winter cruising in the eastern Caribbean. Messages for comment from Hendry’s son and Brandel’s son were not immediately returned.