A couple who sold their home in Virginia to retire from a life at sea are missing, but authorities believe an escaped convict stole their yacht in the Caribbean.
The mystery shocked the families of Kathleen Blundell and Ralph Hendry, as well as the sailing community.
The couple was last seen in Grenada in the eastern Caribbean last week. The Salty Dawg Sailing Association, a non-profit organization of which Blundell and Hendry are members, said their yacht, Simplicity, was found “anchored and abandoned” on St. Vincent Island several days later. However, it was nowhere to be found.
According to preliminary investigations, three prisoners escaped from a detention center in Grenada on February 18 and hijacked a yacht from the capital, St. George's, the following day. According to the Royal Grenada Police Force, they made their way to St. Vincent, where they were eventually recaptured on February 21.
Grenada police believe Blundell and Hendry may have been killed during the hijacking, but they cannot be certain.
Nick Breaux and Brian Hendry can't imagine what happened to their parents, a retired couple who sold their home in Alexandria, Virginia, years ago to spend the rest of their days in Simplicity. That's what he says.
“This is completely unexpected,” Bro said. “And we thought about that and tried to understand a senseless act of violence against two people who were just living in their home, because essentially Simplicity was their home. They didn't have a home…and to have that safety and security suddenly taken away and the place where they live being attacked is unimaginable.”
The brothers are holding out hope that their parents may still be alive, but investigators say there were signs of a violent struggle on board, the couple's belongings scattered around and blood stains.
“Shock, despair, fear, sadness, hope, love – all these emotions are running through our heads at the same time,” Bro said.
The brothers are in the Caribbean and authorities are continuing to search for them. Kathleen Blundell and Ralph Hendry have been married for 27 years and have been sailing around the world for more than a decade.
“They loved immersing themselves in other cultures, meeting people and spreading love wherever they could,” Brian Hendry said.
“You will never meet more beautiful people than Kathy and Ralph. They made everyone feel happy and were so welcoming. They consistently made you feel like you were part of the family. It made me feel like that,” Bro said.
The Salty Dawg Sailing Association said the couple piloted their yacht from Hampton, Virginia, to Antigua in last year's Caribbean Rally and spent the winter cruising in the eastern Caribbean.
Nick and Megan O'Kelly were fellow cruisers and knew the couple well.
“There's a really close-knit community in this community. And when this news came out, it spread like wildfire. People are incredibly shocked and devastated by this.” said Nick O'Kelly.
The prisoners, aged 19, 25 and 30, were charged several months ago with one count of robbery with assault. The oldest inmate was also charged with one count of rape, three counts of attempted rape, and two counts of indecent assault and assault, Grenada police said.
Authorities said they sent senior investigators and forensic experts to St. Vincent.
