3242 – Assault Resulting in Death in Grenada – Grenada – Grand Anse
Incident Date: 2024-02-18 at 22:00
Event Type: Assault Resulting in Death
Stolen Items: entire yacht, personal items and dinghy
Secured: Unknown
Source Type: 1st Hand Report
Incident Details: A cruising catamaran that had been anchored off Grand Anse, Grenada, was found poorly anchored with a shredded jib off the coast of Wallilabou, St. Vincent on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. Upon inspection it was found that the yacht had been ransacked, and it was apparent a violent act had taken place. Copious amounts of blood were found in the master stateroom, and the two owners were missing. Also missing (later recovered) was the yachts dinghy. Many personal items were also missing. Passports found onboard allowed authorities to make contact with the victims’ emergency contact.
Three(3) suspects were taken into custody in St. Vincent on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 21. The three were being held In custody in Grenada on charges including robbery w/violence, rape, attempted rape, indecent assault and causing harm before their escape on Sunday, February 18. They had escaped from their holding cell in Grenada the day the yachts AIS track moved from Grenada to St. Vincent, departing Grenada at 2200HRS Sunday night, February 18, and arriving SVG Monday, February 19.
The Royal Grenada Police Force has issued a press release that indicates they are working with their SVG counterparts and have sent investigators to the yacht which is now considered a crime scene and being held by the SVG Coast Guard. Although this investigation is in its early stages there is grave concern about the welfare of the owners.
UPDATE 3/4/2024 Officials in both Grenada and SVG have declared the 2 missing cruisers as likely deceased, but have not recovered their bodies. A magistrate in St. Vincent and the Grenadines today ordered that the three Grenadian fugitives who are suspected of murdering the 2 cruisers after escaping from a police station in St. George’s, Grenada be repatriated. They had all been charged and plead guilty to immigration violations in SVG. No additional charges were being brought against the three men in SVG.
UPDATE 3/8/2024 Three Grenadian fugitives were repatriated and appeared before a Grenadian magistrate on 3/7/2024. The following media release was made by the RGPF :
MEDIA RELEASE DATE: Thursday 7th March 2024 Recaptured Prisoners Charged with Capital Murder and other Serious Offences, Remanded Ron Mitchell, 30 years old, Unemployed, Atiba Stanisclaus, 25 years old, Farmer and Trevon Robertson, 23 years old, Unemployed, all of Paradise, St. Andrew, were jointly charged with two counts of Capital Murder by intentionally causing the death of Ralph Hendry and Kathleen Brandel, Citizens of the United States of America.
They were also charged for the offences of Escaping Lawful Custody, Housebreaking, Robbery, and two counts of Kidnapping. Additionally, Atiba Stanislaus, was charged with one count of rape.
All three made their first court appearance at St. George’s Magistrate’s Court today, Thursday 7th March 2024, and were remanded to His Majesty’s Prison. They are scheduled to be brought back to court on Wednesday 27th March 2024.
UPDATE 8/6/2025
Grenada local news outlet The New Grenada Today reported that sentences have been handed down by the court. The original capital charges have been reduced/modified. Mitchell and Stanisclaus had numerous prior convictions, and all three had been charged with serious crimes before their escape from the local jail. While some of the sentences will run concurrently, others are to run consecutively.
“30-year old Ron Mitchell was handed two (2) life sentences for Non-Capital Murder in connection with the deaths of 67-year-old Ralph Henry and 71-year-old Kathleen Brandel, a couple from Virginia, USA.
Mitchell, described by the Prosecution as the “ringleader,” must serve at least fifty (50) years before becoming eligible for parole.
He was also sentenced to nine (9) years and one (1) month for housebreaking, five (5) years and four (4) months each on two (2) counts of kidnapping, and 18 years and four (4) months for robbery with violence.
His co-accuseds, Atiba Stanisclaus, 27 and Trevon Robertson, 21, were convicted of Manslaughter for their roles in the same incidents.
Stanisclaus received thirty (30) years on each count of Manslaughter, nine (9) years and one (1) month for housebreaking, 17 years and four (4) months for the rape of Brandel, five (5) years and four (4) months and four (4) years and 10 months for kidnapping, and 17 years and nine months for robbery with violence.
Robertson received 28 years on each count of Manslaughter, seven (7) years and seven (7) months for housebreaking, and sentences of five (5) years and four (4) months and five (5) years for kidnapping.”