SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - In a tragic turn of events, authorities in Grenada have stated that an older U.S. couple, Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel, who were aboard the catamaran "Simplicity" when it was hijacked by three escaped prisoners last week, are likely to have been thrown into the ocean and perished. The prisoners, aged 19, 25, and 30, had escaped on February 18 from the South Saint George Police Station in Grenada and seized the catamaran the following day before being apprehended in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday.

Don McKenzie, the police commissioner of the Royal Grenada Police Force, revealed in a news conference that the couple's fate was believed to have been sealed while the prisoners were en route between Grenada and St. Vincent. Although there is a glimmer of hope that they may still be alive, McKenzie emphasized the limited information available due to the ongoing investigation.

The Salty Dawg Sailing Association described Hendry and Brandel as "veteran cruisers" and valued members who had participated in the Caribbean Rally from Virginia to Antigua. The couple, who were spending the winter cruising in the eastern Caribbean, were well-regarded in the sailing community. A GoFundMe page has been created to support their family during this difficult time.

The escape of the prisoners, who faced charges of robbery with violence and other serious offenses, has raised questions about the security protocols in place at the Grenadian holding station. An investigation is underway to determine if the incident was a result of systemic failures or individual errors.

Authorities from Grenada have dispatched a team to St. Vincent to assist in the investigation, while the St. Vincent police have not yet issued a statement on the matter. The news of the likely demise of Hendry and Brandel has shocked their loved ones and the tight-knit sailing community, highlighting the dangers that lurk even in idyllic waters.