Florida mom is arrested in Turks and Caicos for ammo in suitcase - the fifth American tourist detained on the islands this year over bullets in their bags

A fifth American tourist has been arrested after ammunition was found in her luggage at a Turks and Caicos airport. 

Sharitta Shinese Grier, 45, was arrested last Monday at the Howard Hamilton International Airport, with Turks and Caicos police saying bullets were found 'during a routine security check.' 

It is latest in a spate of arrests made on the island since February which have seen four others now facing charges after they were caught carrying ammo in their luggage. 

Willie Lucas, Grier's mother said it was heartbreaking to leave her daughter behind on the island while the rest of the family returned home to Florida. 

'I didn't want to come home,' she told Fox 35. 'Be safe when you go out of town. Just be safe. Be careful and keep us in your prayers, cuz God knows we sure gonna need it.' 

Ammunition was found in Sharitta Shinese Grier'sr luggage during a routine security check

Sharitta Shinese Grier is the fifth U.S. tourist to be arrested in Turks and Caicos

Sharitta Grier, center, is now living in a rental home on the island with Ryan Watson, left, and Bryan Hagerich, seen right, who were all caught with ammunition in their bags 

Chanchy Willis, Grier's cousin has said it was 'just a horrible mistake' that the ammunition was found. 

'Just for two bullets? It was just a horrible mistake for all five of them ,' Willis said.

Grier posted bail and is now living in a rental property on the island alongside other Americans who have been apprehended. None are allowed to leave the island. 

She will appear before a judge on July 5. 

None of the men who have been arrested Ryan Watson of Oklahoma, Bryan Hagerich of Pennsylvania, Tyler Wenrich of Virginia, and Michael Lee Evans of Texas, are connected in any way. 

'Watching the others and how they are close-knit, and reaching out to her, showing her that she's not alone, they are all in this together, that brings joy to my heart,' Willis said. 

Evans, 72, was granted $20,000 bail and given permission to return back to the U.S due to a medical condition, with reports indicating he is suffering from terminal cancer.  

Wenrich has been in Turks and Caicos since April 20. He was granted bail and is staying with his father. He awaits a hearing this week where the judge may issue a sentence on the same day, News Nation reports. 

'We’ll hear some news one moment, and it lifts your spirits a little bit. Then, the next moment, they just come crashing down on something else. So, it is a wicked roller coaster of a ride right now because emotions go up, and the motion has come down,' Michael Wenrich said. 

'We really don’t know how this is going to play out, because if we look at past cases, they’re all different on the result.' 

Willie Lucas, left, was at a loss for words upon learning that her daughter, Sharitta Grier, had been arrested while visiting the Turks and Caicos on charges of possessing ammunition 

Ryan Watson, 40, of Oklahoma, said that his family are in the dark about his fate, and 'we can't set any kind of expectations on when I can be home to those kids.' 

'To not be with my kids, to not be home with Valerie right now, it's the most awful thing that I have ever lived through at this point,' he said during an interview last month.

He said getting back to his children is 'and always will be, my ultimate goal.' 

Watson has remained on the islands for almost a month as he faces a June 7 court date.

At one point his wife Valerie also faced prison before her charges were dropped.

A small bag of bullets in a ziplock bag were found in Ryan's luggage, triggering questions as to how American TSA missed them when he left for the vacation through Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma. 

'We had no intentions of ever bringing anything into this country. It was just trying to pack board shorts and flip-flops, and that was all we were concerned about bringing,' Watson told Fox News. 

Bryan Hagerich (left) and Ryan Watson (right) are both facing 12 years in Turks and Caicos prison after loose bullets were found in their luggage 

Ryan Watson and his wife Valerie pictured together arriving at their Turks and Caicos vacation

Ryan was held in the Chalk Sound police station (pictured) until he posted bail, however he is unable to leave the island as his passport was seized 

Michael Lee Evans, 72, was granted $20,000 bail and given permission to return back to the U.S due to a medical condition, with reports indicating he is suffering from terminal cancer

Bryan Hagerich of Pennsylvania, was about to head back home to the U.S. and insists he had no intention of bringing ammo to the islands.

He said being away from his family has been difficult.

'As a father, it's my responsibility to provide for my family, to protect my family, to support them in every way imaginable. And for me it's just been catastrophic,' he said. 

Bryan has since missed both of his children's birthdays, and said he is terrified of the prospect of missing their childhoods if he is sentenced to the full 12-year term.

Each of those arrested could potentially face up to 12 years in prison. 

'Twelve years is a long time, and all those special things you look forward to as a parent, knowing you potentially couldn't be there for those, that's what keeps me up at night,' he said.

Bryan Hagerich (pictured with his wife Ashley and their children, Palmer and Catherine) was arrested in February

Bryan Hagerich, 39, left, was arrested in February while Ryan Tyler Watson, 40, right, was charged in April - both with possession of ammunition

Bryan Hagerich, 39, was arrested in February after ammunition was found in his luggage

Ryan Watson, 40, an avid hunter, said loose hunting bullets were found in his luggage as he and wife his Valerie left their vacation. He still remains on the island

Tyler Wenrich, 31, pictured with his wife Jeriann, is also facing 12 years in prison after two 9mm bullets were found in his luggage on April 20 as he departed a bachelor party cruise

'It never dawned on us to research any of these things. And there are a lot of locals that have been just such a blessing and have had such gracious hearts.'

The detainees must now argue before the TCI Superior Court they were arrested under 'exceptional circumstances,' which includes proving they have no prior criminal record, they did not intend to bring ammunition into the airport and why a 12-year sentence would be excessive in their cases.