By DÁNICA COTO (Associated Press)
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Authorities within the japanese Caribbean mentioned they have been making an attempt to find two individuals believed to be U.S. residents who have been aboard a yacht that was hijacked by three escaped prisoners from Grenada.
The Royal Grenada Police Force mentioned in a press release launched Friday that they have been engaged on leads “that suggest” the 2 occupants of the yacht may need been killed.
“This investigation is in its infancy stage,” police mentioned.
The nonprofit Salty Dawg Sailing Association recognized the homeowners as Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel. It mentioned they have been “veteran cruisers” and longtime members of the affiliation, calling them “warmhearted and capable.” A relative of Hendry didn’t return a message in search of remark Saturday.
The affiliation mentioned a cruising skipper had contacted the affiliation a couple of member’s yacht, Simplicity, that was discovered “anchored and abandoned” off a seaside on the island of St. Vincent.
“The good Samaritan had boarded the boat and noted that the owners … were not onboard and found evidence of apparent violence,” the affiliation mentioned in a press release Thursday.
The affiliation mentioned Hendry and Brandel had sailed the yacht in final yr’s Caribbean Rally from Hampton, Virginia, to Antigua, and have been spending the winter cruising within the japanese Caribbean.
“This is a very upsetting event and details are still unconfirmed by the authorities, but this does appear to be a tragic event,” mentioned Bob Osborn, the affiliation’s president. “In all my years of cruising the Caribbean, I have never heard of anything like this.”
Family members of these lacking met with authorities in St. Vincent on Saturday, the place they have been seen boarding the yacht that was hijacked. It was being guarded by officers, considered one of whom was sporting latex gloves.
Hendry’s household issued a press release Saturday thanking police, native coast guards and all those that helped authorities collect info.
“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 household mentioned.
They additionally requested that each one these making an attempt to conduct impartial searches 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,” the household mentioned.
Authorities in Grenada mentioned they’d dispatched senior investigators and a forensic specialist to the close by island of St. Vincent, the place the escaped prisoners have been arrested Wednesday.
The prisoners, ages 19, 25 and 30, have been charged a few months in the past with one rely of theft with violence. The eldest inmate additionally was charged with one rely of rape, three counts of tried rape and two counts of indecent assault and inflicting hurt, police in Grenada mentioned.
The three males escaped from their holding cell Feb. 18, in accordance with police.
Authorities mentioned a preliminary investigation advised the three males seized the yacht at Grenada’s capital, St. George’s, and traveled to St. Vincent.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”