St. George’s, Grenada — Three men who escaped from a Grenadian prison earlier this year and went on to murder a retired U.S. couple aboard their sailboat have been sentenced to decades — and in one case, life — in prison, according to Associated Press.
The victims, Ralph Hendry, 66, and Kathy Brandel, 71, were seasoned sailors and beloved members of the international cruising community when they were attacked and thrown overboard in February while sailing between Grenada and St. Vincent. Their bodies were never recovered.
Convictions and Sentencing
The ringleader, Ron Mitchell, a sailor in his 30s, was sentenced to two life terms for the premeditated murders of Hendry and Brandel.
His accomplices received lengthy sentences:
- Trevon Robertson, in his early 20s, was sentenced to 56 years for manslaughter, plus additional years for related crimes.
- Atiba Stanislaus, also in his 20s and a farmer, was sentenced to 60 years for manslaughter, plus 18 years for the rape of Kathy Brandel, and further sentences for kidnapping and other crimes.
Authorities say the trio escaped from prison on Feb. 18, 2024, and later hijacked the victims’ sailboat, before tossing the couple into the Caribbean Sea.
Beloved Couple Remembered
Ralph and Kathy were well-known within the Salty Dawg Sailing Association, a tight-knit international group of offshore cruisers. They had just completed a rally from Hampton, Virginia, to Antigua in the fall of 2023.
“They were always willing to give help to anyone in need, they were very giving people,” said longtime friend Will Knoll, in an interview with PEOPLE. “It’s just a tragedy that this would occur to them.”
The couple was described as devout Christians and extremely cautious when it came to safety at sea.
Their deaths stunned the sailing community and prompted renewed calls for improved security at marinas and anchorages throughout the Caribbean.
International Manhunt and Capture
The three men were captured days later in St. Vincent, after authorities launched a multinational manhunt. They were quickly extradited back to Grenada, where the criminal proceedings moved swiftly in the wake of widespread public outrage.
Officials say the case highlighted both security vulnerabilities within the Grenadian prison system and the unique dangers faced by cruising sailors, even in otherwise peaceful waters.
Justice, But No Closure
Despite the heavy sentences, friends and family say the lack of recovered remains leaves a void that can’t be filled.
“They were two of the kindest, most humble people you’d ever meet,” one fellow sailor said. “Even with justice served, there’s no bringing them back.”
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