Two Americans are missing and possibly dead after three prison escapees allegedly hijacked an American yacht in the Grenada capital, St. George's, Grenada authorities said Thursday.
The Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) said the three suspects “traveled to St. Vincent on a yacht that was moored in the St. George area.” statement. “The RGPF is currently working on clues that suggest two of the yacht's occupants may have died in the process.”
“The yacht's occupants are believed to be American citizens,” RGPF added.
The suspects were identified as Ron Mitchell, 30, Trevon Robertson, 19, and Abita Stanislaus, 25, RGPF said in a statement.
All three were charged with violent robbery, and Mitchell also committed “one count of rape, three counts of attempted rape, and two counts of indecent assault and causing harm” in the Grand Anse Beach area, officials said. It is said that he was asked. RGPF said the suspects were detained until they escaped last Sunday.
The suspects reportedly hijacked a yacht carrying Americans in St. George's and sailed to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police, working with the RGPF, arrested the suspects on Wednesday. recovered the person.Approximately 215 miles to St. Vincent Island (118 nautical miles) It is located on the coast northeast of St. George's.
“This investigation is at an early stage,” RGPF noted. (Related: Two Americans found dead in a luxury hotel room in Mexico)
The Salty Dawg Sailing Association (SDSA), a non-profit sailing and holiday cruise organization, identified the two Americans as Ralph Hendry and Kathy Blundell. statement, add that It mourned their disappearance. The cruise captain, who noticed the yacht “anchored and abandoned” off the coast of St. Vincent, informed Tacha Hopman, the president of the nonprofit organization, about the disappearance of the two men and what the captain had discovered on board, according to the statement. He said he reported “evidence of violent violence.” SDSA then reportedly notified the St. Vincent Coast Guard, and the RGPF and the U.S. Embassy joined the investigation.
Hendry and Blundell were “veteran cruisers and long-time members of the Navy.” [SDSA] since the early days,” SDSA said.
family set up gofundme The Campaign for Missing Persons has raised nearly half of its $75,000 goal as of this article's publication.
“We are aware of these reports involving U.S. nationals. “We are monitoring the situation and seeking additional information,” a U.S. State Department spokesperson told CNN on Friday. report. The newspaper reported that the US government is cooperating with Grenadian authorities regarding the incident.
grenada, picturesque grand anse beach St. George's Streets and Marina, remains popular with tourists. The lowest travel advisory level is “Level 1: Please take normal precautions.” according to to the US Department of State.
Another Grenadian suspect, Levon Date, who was charged with the murder of Canadian national Wayne Smart in 2023, fled while attending court on Wednesday, the RGPF said in a statement. .
