US Virgin Is - Sarm Joan Lillian Heslop, 41, British, aboard vessel Siren Song, St. John, 7 Mar 2021

[Countem]

Ugh, I'm getting tired of reading that LE isn't sure Sarm ever made it back to the boat and how they can't independently verify it. Is that USVIPD's way of saying that searching the boat wouldn't help the investigation anyway?

Good point.

I wonder, do we know how far the restaurant is from where the dinghy was docked?

Would it have been a two-minute walk or a 15-minute walk to return to the dinghy?

Since the restaurant staff reportedly did not note anything unusual about their behavior at closing, you’d think the less time between the restaurant and the dinghy, the more likely they both made it back to the yacht prior to something bad happening.

 

[Mandalas]

Good point.

I wonder, do we know how far the restaurant is from where the dinghy was docked?

Would it have been a two-minute walk or a 15-minute walk to return to the dinghy?

Since the restaurant staff reportedly did not note anything unusual about their behavior at closing, you’d think the less time between the restaurant and the dinghy, the more likely they both made it back to the yacht prior to something bad happening.

We briefly looked at this earlier in the thread, and I mocked up a few maps.

Here is the link to the original post showing the location maps: US Virgin Is - Sarm Joan Lillian Heslop, 41, British, aboard vessel Siren Song, St. John, 7 Mar 2021

It is less than a 10 minute walk on dry land according to Google Maps between the restaurant 420 and Frank Bay, where the cat was moored. No idea how long this would take in a dinghy.

 

[KING Charles]

I thought they took the dinghy over to Galge Cove, I don’t think it would have been a safe place to leave the dinghy in Franks Bay.

So would have only taken approx 3mins max to get from 420 to dinghy.

Apologies if I’m wrong.

 

[Mandalas]

I thought they took the dinghy over to Galge Cove, I don’t think it would have been a safe place to leave the dinghy in Franks Bay.

So would have only taken approx 3mins max to get from 420 to dinghy.

Apologies if I’m wrong.

So to re-trace/summarise their movements, are we saying:

• Charter boat Siren Song moored with dinghy at Frank Bay
• Dinghy taken by RB and SH from Frank Bay around to Galge Cove/Cruz Bay (precise mooring location TBD)
• Couple disembark dinghy and walk to 420 to Center restaurant
• Couple leave restaurant, walk from there to board dinghy
• Couple allegedly return to Siren Song by dinghy.

Supposedly RB woke up on the boat in the wee hours, and called the police at 2.30am. Would phone records indicate whether he made the call from the boat or elsewhere?

Why would safety come into whether or not they left the dinghy in Frank Bay @KING Charles in your view?

 

[KING Charles]

So to re-trace/summarise their movements, are we saying:

• Charter boat Siren Song moored with dinghy at Frank Bay
• Dinghy taken by RB and SH from Frank Bay around to Galge Cove/Cruz Bay (precise mooring location TBD)
• Couple disembark dinghy and walk to 420 to Center restaurant
• Couple leave restaurant, walk from there to board dinghy
• Couple allegedly return to Siren Song by dinghy.

Supposedly RB woke up on the boat in the wee hours, and called the police at 2.30am. Would phone records indicate whether he made the call from the boat or elsewhere?

Why would safety come into whether or not they left the dinghy in Frank Bay @KING Charles in your view?

Yes I agree with the movements to Galge Bay via dinghy, then on foot to 420 and return the same way. That’s how I had always visualised it.
The reason in my mind why I came to this conclusion is because I walked along the coast road at Frank Bay (0n Google) and it looks rather desolate and would be more so in the evening. I just didn’t think it was a safe place to leave the dinghy, that it might not be there upon their return.
JMO

 

[MrsWatson]

So sad there is no news on Sarm.

Wonder if RB is booking any guests?

 

[Curiousobserver]

So to re-trace/summarise their movements, are we saying:

• Charter boat Siren Song moored with dinghy at Frank Bay
• Dinghy taken by RB and SH from Frank Bay around to Galge Cove/Cruz Bay (precise mooring location TBD)
• Couple disembark dinghy and walk to 420 to Center restaurant
• Couple leave restaurant, walk from there to board dinghy
• Couple allegedly return to Siren Song by dinghy.

Supposedly RB woke up on the boat in the wee hours, and called the police at 2.30am. Would phone records indicate whether he made the call from the boat or elsewhere?

Why would safety come into whether or not they left the dinghy in Frank Bay @KING Charles in your view?

I doubt they walked back to the Cat as some have suggested may have happened. It was fully night when they left. The street to the mooring is very narrow and very dark, and you would likely get hit by a car.

The route back to where you would tie up a dinghy is also very dark at that time as is the bay and the route back by sea.

They likely hugged the shore on the way back and most likely passed by a number of other boats anchored in the bay. And yet: Nobody has come forward to say, yeah, I saw them zoom past around 9:00?

 

[KING Charles]

So sad there is no news on Sarm.

Wonder if RB is booking any guests?[/QUOT

So sad there is no news on Sarm.

Wonder if RB is booking any guests?

I have looked at about six sites and they all say that Siren Song is not available for bookings.
Interesting that one site states the home port for siren song is Red Hook St James USVI.

 

[MsMarple]

I have looked at about six sites and they all say that Siren Song is not available for bookings.
Interesting that one site states the home port for siren song is Red Hook St James USVI.

Your comment is making me rethink what @DeDee said earlier about money pressures affecting relationships. I kind of poo pooed it then but now I have to wonder just how much the pandemic affected the income for charter boats last year.

Generally speaking about the charter boat business; in a scenario where guest bookings are the main income, if business was curtailed due to Covid for an extended period it may indeed put negative pressure on a boat captain, especially if he/she was also supporting a second crew member. That in turn could cause strife between two romantic partners.

Perhaps that's why Siren Song was moored in Frank Bay, which is more desolate and likely cheaper if not free compared to Cruz Bay. Apparently boat slips and even overnight stays aren't cheap and add up over time.

Although it may all be moot by now. Maybe it's time for Sarm's friends and family to stop thanking LE for essentially doing nothing to find her. MOO.

 

[DeDee]

Yes I agree with the movements to Galge Bay via dinghy, then on foot to 420 and return the same way. That’s how I had always visualised it.
The reason in my mind why I came to this conclusion is because I walked along the coast road at Frank Bay (0n Google) and it looks rather desolate and would be more so in the evening. I just didn’t think it was a safe place to leave the dinghy, that it might not be there upon their return.
JMO

I'm not sure the 420 was located in a safe area. According to online reviews of the restaurant, it is my impression from some visitors that mentioned their opinions being 420 was not in the best of locations.

Your comment is making me rethink what @DeDee said earlier about money pressures affecting relationships. I kind of poo pooed it then but now I have to wonder just how much the pandemic affected the income for charter boats last year.

Generally speaking about the charter boat business; in a scenario where guest bookings are the main income, if business was curtailed due to Covid for an extended period it may indeed put negative pressure on a boat captain, especially if he/she was also supporting a second crew member. That in turn could cause strife between two romantic partners.

Perhaps that's why Siren Song was moored in Frank Bay, which is more desolate and likely cheaper if not free compared to Cruz Bay. Apparently boat slips and even overnight stays aren't cheap and add up over time.

Although it may all be moot by now. Maybe it's time for Sarm's friends and family to stop thanking LE for essentially doing nothing to find her. MOO.

The Siren Song website claims to have a first mate aboard as well as offering the fabulously prepared meals. I think Sarm came along to visit at a time when booked tours were way down simply because people weren't taking vacations. I don't think the Captain was paying his Chef as promised but willing to be proven wrong.

If businesses in port cities were closed, then who was going to charter a private yacht? The Siren Song likely depended a great deal upon the cruise ships to bring in folks who wanted private excursions (as mentioned in the video below). Doesn't most of the world have travel restrictions, such as banning out of country airline travel, plus a quarantine time period imposed?

Map showing closed countries with The Bahamas currently partially open:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Travel Restrictions By Country

This April 7, 2021 video was enlightening. It's not complex so it can be played at a faster speed to cut down on the 16m video. It explains how the cruise industry handled covid restrictions and, albeit reluctantly, repatriating staff.

 

[KING Charles]

Your comment is making me rethink what @DeDee said earlier about money pressures affecting relationships. I kind of poo pooed it then but now I have to wonder just how much the pandemic affected the income for charter boats last year.

Generally speaking about the charter boat business; in a scenario where guest bookings are the main income, if business was curtailed due to Covid for an extended period it may indeed put negative pressure on a boat captain, especially if he/she was also supporting a second crew member. That in turn could cause strife between two romantic partners.

Perhaps that's why Siren Song was moored in Frank Bay, which is more desolate and likely cheaper if not free compared to Cruz Bay. Apparently boat slips and even overnight stays aren't cheap and add up over time.

Although it may all be moot by now. Maybe it's time for Sarm's friends and family to stop thanking LE for essentially doing nothing to find her. MOO.

Yes I too wonder if there have been financial problems. Had a quick look on trip advisor at the reviews. There have been lots of glowing reports back in 2016 and 2018, but other years not so many. The last review had a posting in March 2020.
Obviously there will be more forums with reviews But just giving above for example. Then of course the covid began to escalate from March 2020 onwards.
Regarding thanking LE I have been thinking exactly the same. MOO

 

[KING Charles]

Hi.. @DeDee I was pointing out that I didn’t think Frank bay was a safe area for the Dinghy. But although the 420 might not have been the best of places to be walking at night, it was only a 2min walk if the dinghy was in Galge Cove. This seems to be where most would leave there dinghy and quite a busy area.
Also I presume they are familiar with the area around 420 and used to taking extra care.
I agree that money probs may have been an issue.
Thanks for posting the video Cruise industry shutdown.
I found this quite interesting with regards to thefts of dinghy in USVI and BVI ...

THE VIRGINS: The US Virgins and the British Virgins | Caribbean Safety and Security Net

 

[Tortoise]

The Siren Song website claims to have a first mate aboard as well as offering the fabulously prepared meals. I think Sarm came along to visit at a time when booked tours were way down simply because people weren't taking vacations. I don't think the Captain was paying his Chef as promised but willing to be proven wrong.

rsbm

Where did you read that Sarm was promised payment for her work? I haven't seen it anywhere but I might have missed it.

I'm thinking it could have been an informal arrangement for her to chef for him while having her meals and accommodation provided on his boat. It seemed to be more of a relationship of the heart than a business arrangement, although that wouldn't provide her with financial independence looking to the longer term.

 

[DeDee]

rsbm

Where did you read that Sarm was promised payment for her work? I haven't seen it anywhere but I might have missed it.

I'm thinking it could have been an informal arrangement for her to chef for him while having her meals and accommodation provided on his boat. It seemed to be more of a relationship of the heart than a business arrangement, although that wouldn't provide her with financial independence looking to the longer term.

You could be right and I could be wrong, Tortoise. I've always thought her pay was $500 per week yet I don't recall where I obtained that idea of the salary being $500pw.

The 41-year-old British cook was first reported missing on March 7 by her boyfriend Ryan Bane

She reportedly moved to the Virgin Islands to pursue her dream of becoming a chef. Her Instagram account is filled with colorful foodie snaps and beach shots.

Who Is Sarm Heslop? She Went Missing Aboard Her Boyfriend's Yacht.

Sarm Heslop, 41, had is believed to have been hired by her boyfriend Ryan Bane, 44, to work as a chef as he chartered the boat out. (Virgin Islands Police Department)

Virgin Islands missing woman boat 'Siren Song' name invokes morbid mythology

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Your comment is making me rethink what @DeDee said earlier about money pressures affecting relationships. I kind of poo pooed it then but now I have to wonder just how much the pandemic affected the income for charter boats last year.

Generally speaking about the charter boat business; in a scenario where guest bookings are the main income, if business was curtailed due to Covid for an extended period it may indeed put negative pressure on a boat captain, especially if he/she was also supporting a second crew member. That in turn could cause strife between two romantic partners...

The lack of cruise ships in the Caribbean is also likely having a major impact on charter boats and island tours. Most cruise lines port in St. Thomas and offer excursions to neighboring islands like St. John. Cruise ship passengers also book private boat tours not sanctioned by the cruise line. The lack of cruise ship dockings in USVI during the past year has probably had a negative impact on the economies of all islands in the Caribbean who rely on tourism for their livelihoods.

 

[MsMarple]

Nothing new, just a rehash of what we already know but at least it's keeping Sarm's name in msm:

Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) spokesman Toby Derima told Fox News that authorities have "utilized various investigative efforts, to include land and water searches, aided by canine and unmanned aircraft systems."
...
Fox News has reached out to the Virgin Islands Police Department seeking more information.
US Virgin Islands police can’t confirm Sarm Heslop arrived on boyfriend’s yacht before she went missing

I wish more news outlets would "reach out" to USVIPD for more information. LE needs to be aware that the world is watching and waiting to see what they do to find Sarm.

 

[MsMarple]

Again, nothing new but an opportunity to keep Sarm in the public's eye:

Virgin Islands Police Department has searched the island and its coastline using divers, drones and dogs but have yet to confirm if she was onboard the catamaran the night before she was reported missing.

Mr Bane, the last person to have seen her, "has declined detectives' request for an interview" according to police.
Sarm Heslop: Plea to boyfriend to help in missing woman search

The article repeats what RB's attorney said weeks ago, that "Ryan's only hope is that Sarm is found alive and well… Mr Bane has spent countless hours searching for Sarm and will continue to do so."

Yeah, right, what a load of baloney.

At 6 weeks with no contact from Sarm it seems at the very least that LE could declare her "endangered missing."

 

[KING Charles]

Again, nothing new but an opportunity to keep Sarm in the public's eye:

Virgin Islands Police Department has searched the island and its coastline using divers, drones and dogs but have yet to confirm if she was onboard the catamaran the night before she was reported missing.

Mr Bane, the last person to have seen her, "has declined detectives' request for an interview" according to police.
Sarm Heslop: Plea to boyfriend to help in missing woman search

The article repeats what RB's attorney said weeks ago, that "Ryan's only hope is that Sarm is found alive and well… Mr Bane has spent countless hours searching for Sarm and will continue to do so."

Yeah, right, what a load of baloney.

At 6 weeks with no contact from Sarm it seems at the very least that LE could declare her "endangered missing."

Definitely agree with you @MsMarple

Mr Bane's lawyer said his client was "devastated" at what happened.

Oh really! I don’t believe in my opinion that RB is devastated. What a load of twaddle! People on this thread have shown more sympathy and searching for clues that don’t even know Sarm.

 

[MsMarple]

It’s unclear why police have not obtained a search warrant for the Siren Song, and the department has declined to comment.

Several experts have told Fox News that they believe there is enough probable cause* to convince a judge to grant a search warrant, as Heslop was purportedly last seen alive on the boat before going missing.
...
A spokesperson for the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment on any possible search of the Siren Song.
US Virgin Islands missing woman Sarm Heslop’s friends plead for boyfriend to help search

*From April 1:
"Get a warrant, get a judge to sign the warrant and get a search warrant," Forrester said. "They have enough probably (sic) cause, I think. She’s missing, and she was on that boat. ... They’re just not doing their job."

The U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but earlier this week investigators renewed their appeal for anyone with information on Heslop’s whereabouts to contact them. The FBI is also involved in the search, and police at the nearby British Virgin Islands told Fox News last week they were monitoring the case.
US Virgin Islands missing Sarm Heslop: 'Not normal' for police not to search boyfriend's yacht, expert says

 

[DeDee]

LEO states that they can find no evidence of Sarm boarding the Siren Song after departing the restaurant. They are telling the Captain that they do not believe him and his cockamamie story.

What evidence are they relying upon to determine whether or not this young lady made it back to the yacht? There must be camera evidence somewhere showing RB without Sarm.

Now, I am beginning to wonder if RB took Sarm ashore for a specific purpose and it was not to wine and dine with her.

#FindSarm