A 30-year financial industry veteran from Virginia and his wife are presumed dead after disappearing off their yacht in Grenada last week, according to news reports.
Ralph Hendry, a broker and financial advisor, and his wife, Kathy Brandel, are presumed dead after encountering three escapees from a Grenadan prison, according to a statement Monday from the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, CNN reported.
The three suspects, who escaped prison on Feb. 18 and were recaptured three days later, are cooperating with authorities, according to CNN, which also cited the Royal Grenada Police Force commissioner as saying separately Monday that the couple likely was thrown overboard. Authorities are holding out hope the couple is alive despite a "low probability," the commissioner said at the news conference.
"Information suggests" that the trio commandeered Hendry and Brandel's catamaran Simplicity and that while sailing between Grenada and St. Vincent, "they disposed of the occupants," the commissioner said in the news conference.
Authorities said the boat showed signs of violence, according to news reports.
A GoFundMe started five days ago on behalf of the couple's sons says the pair's "lives ended in unimaginable tragedy on Sunday, February 19th, off the shores of Grand Anse Beach, Grenada."
An update Tuesday on that site from Brandel's son, Nick Buro, and Hendry's son, Bryan Hendry, states, in part:
"We are incredibly saddened to hear the news that our parents Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry are now presumed dead. We remain optimistic in the on-going search led by the St. Vincent Coast Guard.
