Three escaped Grenadian prisoners who hijacked a catamaran, killed the Virginia couple who owned the boat, and threw their bodies overboard were arraigned last week on several charges, including, for one of them, rape.
Ron Mitchell, Atiba Stanisclaus and Trevon Robertson were being held on robbery charges on February 18 when they escaped a holding cell in St. George, the New York Post said. The trio are believed to have pirated the sailboat of Ralph Hendry, 66, and Kathleen Brandel, 71, who were aboard the Simplicity at the time.
Royal Grenada Police Force Commissioner Don McKenzie said the three are believed to have killed Hendry and Brandel and “disposed” of their bodies as they sailed the Simplicity to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, about 70 miles away. Authorities there captured the three and found the Simplicity anchored and abandoned.
The boat was found ransacked with blood evidence throughout, but there was no sign of Hendry or Brandel.
The suspects were brought back to Grenada and charged with two counts of capital murder, two counts of kidnapping, escaping lawful custody, housebreaking, and robbery.
Stanisclaus, 25, was also charged with one count rape. Police told the Daily Mail the charge was the rape of Brandel, although they also said that he faces a rape charge from an unrelated incident.
Grenadian police are facing sharp scrutiny from local media about how the prisoners escaped and whether any officers were facing discipline.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel/ABC News]
