Three of the men from Grenada have been sentenced to 15 and 18 years in prison. They were responsible for the tragic death of American couple Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel, who perished while cruising in the eastern Caribbean. The sentences were delivered after a series of hearings that highlighted the brutal nature of the crimes committed against the elderly couple.
Ralph Hendry, 66, and Kathy Brandel, 71, were sailing on their catamaran, the Simplicity, when they were hijacked by Atiba Stanislaus, Ron Mitchell, and Trevon Robertson. The couple’s idyllic float trip vacation morphed into a horror film scenario after the three men began arresting, stripping, and humiliating them. Ten days after those murders, authorities arrested the suspects in neighboring St. Vincent, where they were discovered sheltered following their barbaric murders.
Atiba Stanislaus, a late 20s farmer, got sentenced to 60 years for manslaughter. He had yet to face an additional almost 18 years for the rape and murder of Brandel. His actions were a substantial cause of the preventable tragedy that ultimately unfolded on the Simplicity.
Ron Mitchell, a young sailor, was given two life sentences. He was found guilty in the murders of Hendry and Brandel. His sentencing is a much – much – deserved justice for the extreme violence he carried out against the couple.
Trevon Robertson, an unemployed 21-year old, was sentenced to 56 years for a manslaughter conviction. He was hit with other conspiracy-related charges as the case expanded against him. In its decision, the court praised the collaboration of all three men. Yet, they conspired together to carry out these heinous crimes against the retired couple.
The club’s governing body, the Salty Dawg Sailing Association, called Hendry and Brandel warm-hearted and capable leaders. Their historic reputation still looms large in the sailing world. The impact of losing this couple has been profound on all of us who knew them. Their absence is felt throughout the larger maritime community as well.