Grenada three charged for the murder of US couple

A cross-jurisdiction investigation between law enforcement in Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has led to murder charges being laid against three Grenadian men who have become well-known in the international media.

From Left: Atiba Stanislaus under armed police guard outside the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court , Ron Mitchell and Trevorn Robertson

On Thursday March 7, 2024, the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) slapped Atiba Stainslaus, Trevon Robertson and Ron Mitchell with murder and a slew of other charges including escaping lawful custody, housebreaking, robbery, kidnapping as well as rape.

The alleged murder victims, a US-couple whose bodies have not yet been recovered, were believed to have been killed by the trio after the men hijacked their yacht which was docked in St George in Grenada and sailed to St Vincent. It is believed that the men dumped the bodies of Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel into the sea.

The men arrived on the yacht ‘Simplicity’ on the leeward coast of mainland St Vincent sometime on Monday February, 19,2024, after escaping lawful custody in Grenada earlier that day where they were being held on robbery and rape charges.

SVG police apprehended the men in Petit Bordel two days later and they were deported to Grenada on March 4, 2024, after pleading guilty to entering SVG illegally.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), in Grenada Christopher Nelson, in an interview earlier this week with the Grenada Broadcasting Network (GBN), said Grenada had taken over the murder investigation and received evidence collected from RSVGPF investigators.

“St Vincent has deported so they have no criminal jurisdiction in relation to this matter at the moment…certainly the criminal enterprise began in Grenada with the yacht because the yacht was confirmed to be in Grenada territory.”

He said the murder investigation, although being led by Grenada, was supported by Vincentian law enforcement as well.

“The investigation is very detailed and is cross-jurisdiction. We are gathering, collecting, receiving evidence both locally and from St Vincent. We have to process, review and examine that and put things in order before we make any further moves.”

The men appeared at the St. George’s Magistrate’s Court on Thursday and were remanded into custody to return to court on March 27.