Grenada cops say Kathleen Brandel was raped on her boat before she and her husband were brutally murdered and 'tossed overboard' by three suspects who had escaped from jail

A Virginia woman was raped before she and her husband were murdered and thrown off their yacht into the sea by a trio of escaped prisoners, authorities say. 

Kathleen Brandel and her husband Ralph Hendry were on a trip of a lifetime sailing around the Caribbean when their yacht was hijacked and they were murdered.

Ron Mitchell, Atiba Stanisclaus and Trevon Robertson, who had escaped from prison in Grenada, have been formally charged with their kidnapping and murder. 

Now, Granada police have confirmed that Stanisclaus is also charged with raping Brandel before her death.

The trio made their first court appearance in St. George’s Magistrate’s Court in Grenada on Thursday and have also been charged with escaping lawful custody, housebreaking, robbery and kidnapping. They are next due in court on March 27.

Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel (pictured) had been sailing around the Caribbean island and had docked near Saint George's when their catamaran was taken on February 18. Police fear the couple may have been murdered by three men who escaped a Grenada jail

Ron Mitchell, Trevon Robertson and Atiba Stanisclaus (pictured) have each been charged with two counts of capital murder over the deaths of Ralph Hendry and Kathleen Brandel

It was originally not clear if Stanisclaus' rape charge was linked to the case, but police told DailyMail.com: 'Atiba Stanisclaus was charged by the Grenadian police with one count of rape on Kathy Brandel. 

'I believe he is also facing another rape charge from a separate incident in Grenada.'

The victims' bodies have not yet been recovered but information suggests the suspects 'disposed of the occupants' while traveling between Grenada and St. Vincent, which is about 80 miles away. 

The men had escaped from prison where they were facing charges of entering the country by boat and disembarking without the consent of Immigration officer, entering without a passport, entering at a point other than an official port of entry and landing as a prohibited immigrant.

They were being held at the South Saint George's Police Station on the island when they escaped and are believed to have killed the couple before traveling to St. Vincent. 

Hendry and Brandel had lived on their yacht, Simplicity, since 2013, after they decided to sell their home and the majority of their possessions to buy a boat.

They spent most of their time stationed in Florida, but would travel to Rhode Island during hurricane season. This winter was the first time the pair had sailed to the Caribbean.

Although Brandel 'worked her whole life' and has since retired, Brandel's son Nick Buro said that Hendry - who is in the financial services industry - had 'continued to work from the boat.'

The couple, who were lifelong sailors and married 27 years, have been able to travel to 'many parts of the world' due to their boat lifestyle and were living a 'life of joy and love.'

The couple, who were lifelong sailors and married 27 years, have been able to travel to 'many parts of the world' due to their boat lifestyle and were living a 'life of joy and love'. Pictured together: Hendry and Brandel

Hendry and Brandel, (pictured) who are in their 60s, live aboard the vessel, named 'Simplicity' and were enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime trip that they had been planning for 12 years

Bryan Hendry, son of Hendry, revealed that his parents just 'wanted to immerse themselves in different communities and share love and spread joy.'

Buro confirmed shortly after the incident that the boat was 'ransacked' and it appeared to be a violent 'altercation'

Buro previously shared that the family was 'hopeful' that his parents would be found, but said evidence on their boat indicates 'they were likely injured'. 

'The boat itself was ransacked and everything was strewn about in the entire cabin so clearly there was an altercation of some type that took place on the boat,' he told CNN, adding: 'We are doing our best to try and get answers.'

He revealed the family was concerned 'there might be a possibility that they aren't with us,' which has likely proven to be true. 

The couple had been sailing on their catamaran yacht 'Simplicity' and were enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime trip when the incident occurred

Brandel's son Nick Buro revealed the family was concerned 'there might be a possibility that they aren't with us,' which has unfortunately proven to be true

The boat was found 85 nautical miles from where the couple had last been seen on it 

The suspects, Trevon Robertson (left), Atiba Stanislaus (middle) and Ron Mitchell (right) are seen walking out of Kingstown Magistrate Court on Monday in St. Vincent. Police fear that Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel were murdered by the escaped inmates 

Two of the three murder suspects are seen hiding their faces with paper in the back of a pickup truck after they exited the court. The person in the middle is another prisoner being transported who is not related to the case 

He said that his mother and stepfather were 'super careful' and 'safety was their top, top concern' everywhere they traveled. He suspects the 'unfortunate' and 'horrific' event likely 'came out of nowhere for them'. 

AIS data indicates that the vessel left Grenada around 10 pm from Grand Anse Beach before it was discovered the following Wednesday.

The St Vincent Times reported that the boat was found with bloodstains on the interior, but no sign of the couple.

'Copious volumes of blood were discovered in the master stateroom. Numerous personal belongings were also lost. 

Passports discovered onboard allowed police to contact the victims’ emergency contacts,' a safety report filed on Caribbean Security and Safety Net said.