An older U.S. couple, Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel, who went missing after their catamaran was hijacked by three escaped prisoners in the Caribbean last week, are feared dead after being likely thrown into the ocean, according to police in Grenada. The escapees fled from the South Saint George Police Station on February 18 and commandeered the catamaran named "Simplicity" the following day, eventually being apprehended in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Police Commissioner Don McKenzie expressed a somber tone during a news conference, recognizing the grim possibility of the couple's fate, though he emphasized that there isn't conclusive evidence of their demise. The missing couple, described as "veteran cruisers" and beloved members of the Salty Dawg Sailing Association, had sailed in various rallies and were well-known in the sailing community. The couple's family, including their son, is in anguish, with a GoFundMe page established to support them.

Questions are now being raised about the escape of the prisoners and the circumstances leading to the tragedy. Authorities in Grenada are investigating the incident and contemplating whether there was a systemic failure that allowed the escape to occur. The escaped prisoners, aged 19, 25, and 30, were facing serious charges including robbery with violence and other grave offenses.

Grenadian police remain resolved to uncover the truth behind the escape and the disappearance of the couple, keeping hope alive for a miraculous outcome amidst the heart-wrenching turn of events.