Grenadian prisoners suspected of killing US yacht owners during escape

A brazen escape by three prisoners from a police station in Grenada, ended in capture on the North Leeward side of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The three-day run which lasted from Monday, February 19 to Wednesday February 21, appears to have resulted in the death of two people, as it is believed that the men killed a husband and wife in an attempt to steal their yacht to escape the island.

The missing couple has been confirmed as veteran sailors Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry.

Information from the Salty Dawg Sailing Association (SDSA), of which Kathy and Ralph were members, report that a tracking map shows that Simplicity was anchored in Grenada and then the boat moved directly to its last anchorage off St. Vincent.

The vessel was found beached in Wallilabou SVG on Wednesday with no one on board, however blood stains and signs of violence were noted.

International media outlets report that the couple were sailing around the Caribbean and the yacht had been docked just off the capital city of Grenada, St George on the day the vessel is believed to have been hijacked.

Reports from the The New Today newspaper detail that the men were able to make good their escape from the St George Police Station as a result of a faulty door that was not able to be properly locked.

The men were eventually captured by Rapid Response Unit officers of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVPF) in the community of Petit Bordel.

The Grenadian newspaper revealed that officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) are expected to travel to SVG to further investigations.

The three escapees are Ron Mitchell, 30 and  unemployed; Trevon Robertson, age and a farmer; Atiba Stanislaus , age 23 and unemployed all of Paradise, St Andrew, Grenada.

The men were held by Grenada Police on charges of rape, robbery with violence and other serious offences.