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

[JuicyLucy]

The police say they they can't determine race.

Doesn't that suggest there's no skin or hair on the body? It seems inconsistent with the date of SH's disappearance.

Moo.

Discolouration, decomposition of features, interference by animals... a few of the possibilities. They will be analysing DNA as we speak. If the body was found on May 19, there should be more info any time now.

JMO

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Sarm Heslop: Body found on island is not missing woman

Police have confirmed a woman's body found on a Caribbean island is not that of a missing British woman.

Sarm Heslop, 41, from Southampton, was reported missing by her boyfriend, Ryan Bane, from his boat off St John in the US Virgin Islands on 8 March.

A body was found on the island of St Croix which is about 40 miles (65km) from St John on 19 May.

Virgin Islands Police Department said the body was "not Caucasian ruling out the remains are of Ms Heslop".

 

[MsMarple]

Officers in US Virgin Islands call on Ryan Bane to cooperate with them as search for British woman missing for three months continues.
Tell us what you know, police urge boyfriend of missing Sarm Heslop

The rest of the article is not available to me but it’s reassuring that LE still wants RB to cooperate.
Too little too late IMO.

 

[Bogyo13]

Officers in US Virgin Islands call on Ryan Bane to cooperate with them as search for British woman missing for three months continues.
Tell us what you know, police urge boyfriend of missing Sarm Heslop

The rest of the article is not available to me but it’s reassuring that LE still wants RB to cooperate.
Too little too late IMO.

That boat is sparkling clean by now. JMO

 

[Curiousobserver]

Why did he report her missing at all? He could have sailed anywhere, dropped her stuff in the ocean and claimed she got off the boat and he hasn't seen her since.

 

[KING Charles]

Ryan Bane Was ‘Drunk And Uncooperative’ When Coast Guard Met With Him After Sarm Heslop’s Disappearance


CRUZ BAY — Police are pressing the boyfriend of a British woman missing from St. John for nearly three months to begin cooperating fully with their investigation.

Sarm Heslop’s Michigan boyfriend Ryan Bane has refused to allow police to search his boat, from where he says she disappeared in the early hours of March 8.

Bane also refused to allow the Coast Guard full access to his boat, Siren Song, after telling them he had been woken by the anchor alarm and found her gone.

 

[MsMarple]

Ryan Bane Was ‘Drunk And Uncooperative’ When Coast Guard Met With Him After Sarm Heslop’s Disappearance


CRUZ BAY — Police are pressing the boyfriend of a British woman missing from St. John for nearly three months to begin cooperating fully with their investigation.

Sarm Heslop’s Michigan boyfriend Ryan Bane has refused to allow police to search his boat, from where he says she disappeared in the early hours of March 8.

Bane also refused to allow the Coast Guard full access to his boat, Siren Song, after telling them he had been woken by the anchor alarm and found her gone.

From your link:

“We would like the boyfriend to cooperate with the police,” VIPD spokesman Toby Derima told The Telegraph, “We would like to ask him a few questions. We need his cooperation and for him to come forward so we can speak to him.”
...
“American citizens have rights and we cannot go and search his boat unless we have probable cause to do so,” Derima added. “We need to have probable cause to search his boat and that is why we need him to speak to us to tell us more. Right now there is nothing we can do nor can we get a warrant without probable cause.”
...
Coast Guard officials said that when they visited his boat that afternoon, during a search and rescue operation, they found him “drunk and uncooperative.” He refused to answer questions and physically prevented them from searching his boat.
[end]

@Curiousobserver - So why did RB call LE to report Sarm missing if he could have just claimed she left the boat on her own accord? Good question IMO! IMO it could easily have been panic if something bad happened onboard. People tend not to plan well *after* the fact so they often act impulsively.

It could have been because he had a new group of tourists arriving soon and needed to be able to take the boat offline in order to give it a good cleaning.

We'll likely never know the truth of what happened that night. If RB was involved in something shady and Sarm paid the price for it then I cannot consider him "innocent" of anything even if he didn't personally harm her. I do believe though that if she was kidnapped by pirates or whatever that we'd have some information about such activity in the area.

Sadly, IMO I'm afraid her disappearance is exactly what we all fear. MOO.

 

[KING Charles]

Latest Updates Archives – #FindSarm


It’s been 11 weeks since Sarm Heslop went missing from the US Virgin Island of St John. We are still pushing for news, asking questions and trying to keep Sarm in people’s hearts and minds and it’s intensely frustrating we don’t have any information to share. We would like to… Continue reading...

 

[KING Charles]

Just to add that it must be devastating for Sarms family. Especially hearing about the body discovered on St Croix. Having to rely on updates from LE out there in StJohn and the months passing by. I really feel for them.

 

[Mandalas]

From your link:

“We would like the boyfriend to cooperate with the police,” VIPD spokesman Toby Derima told The Telegraph, “We would like to ask him a few questions. We need his cooperation and for him to come forward so we can speak to him.”
...
“American citizens have rights and we cannot go and search his boat unless we have probable cause to do so,” Derima added. “We need to have probable cause to search his boat and that is why we need him to speak to us to tell us more. Right now there is nothing we can do nor can we get a warrant without probable cause.”
...
Coast Guard officials said that when they visited his boat that afternoon, during a search and rescue operation, they found him “drunk and uncooperative.” He refused to answer questions and physically prevented them from searching his boat.
[end]

@Curiousobserver - So why did RB call LE to report Sarm missing if he could have just claimed she left the boat on her own accord? Good question IMO! IMO it could easily have been panic if something bad happened onboard. People tend not to plan well *after* the fact so they often act impulsively.

It could have been because he had a new group of tourists arriving soon and needed to be able to take the boat offline in order to give it a good cleaning.

We'll likely never know the truth of what happened that night. If RB was involved in something shady and Sarm paid the price for it then I cannot consider him "innocent" of anything even if he didn't personally harm her. I do believe though that if she was kidnapped by pirates or whatever that we'd have some information about such activity in the area.

Sadly, IMO I'm afraid her disappearance is exactly what we all fear. MOO.

So the day after her disappearance, he was "drunk and uncooperative"? That's not a good sign... Is this guy an alcoholic? Why would he be drinking in the afternoon the day after his girlfriend has gone missing and there is no sign? That's another big red flag IMO, whether he was directly involved or not. It's hard to see how we are likely to gain any further intelligence in this case

 

[MsMarple]

So the day after her disappearance, he was "drunk and uncooperative"? That's not a good sign... Is this guy an alcoholic? Why would he be drinking in the afternoon the day after his girlfriend has gone missing and there is no sign? That's another big red flag IMO, whether he was directly involved or not. It's hard to see how we are likely to gain any further intelligence in this case

Yes, a huge red flag. So much for his lawyer claiming RB was out searching for Sarm.

I’d love to know if he appeared drunk to LE when he met them on shore.

 

[Bogyo13]

So the day after her disappearance, he was "drunk and uncooperative"? That's not a good sign... Is this guy an alcoholic? Why would he be drinking in the afternoon the day after his girlfriend has gone missing and there is no sign? That's another big red flag IMO, whether he was directly involved or not. It's hard to see how we are likely to gain any further intelligence in this case

I was thinking about this too. If he IS an alcoholic then it's not necessarily gilt related.
Alcoholics turn to alcohol under stress, it could also mean he was distressed by the fact she was missing.
JMO dealing with alcoholics in the past

 

[Mandalas]

I was thinking about this too. If he IS an alcoholic then it's not necessarily gilt related.
Alcoholics turn to alcohol under stress, it could also mean he was distressed by the fact she was missing.
JMO dealing with alcoholics in the past

I take your point, and get how this could have been a case of self-medicating or similar, to ease the pressure and strain of the situation, or distress or any other negative/intense feeling.

But what then about the uncooperative bit? Assuming he is guilt free (of direct or indirect events that caused Sarm's disappearance), why be uncooperative? This is where the notion of him being distrusting of authorities once again raises its head. I can't think of many other reasons....

Edited to correct typos.
MOO

 

[Mandalas]

Also, if he knew the authorities were going to be searching the area and interested in the vessel, then it is interesting that he chose to drink to excess..... A clever planner wanting to retain control is unlikely to make such a choice. Someone who is out of control themselves or feeling a loss of control could easily make that choice. Someone who has lost a loved one and is devastated (who may or may not be aware of any unusual circumstances leading up to her disappearance), could equally make that choice out of desperation.

So very sad, all of it, and the lack of dialogue around this has surely got to change.

 

[MsMarple]

Also, if he knew the authorities were going to be searching the area and interested in the vessel, then it is interesting that he chose to drink to excess..... A clever planner wanting to retain control is unlikely to make such a choice. Someone who is out of control themselves or feeling a loss of control could easily make that choice. Someone who has lost a loved one and is devastated (who may or may not be aware of any unusual circumstances leading up to her disappearance), could equally make that choice out of desperation.

So very sad, all of it, and the lack of dialogue around this has surely got to change.

Given RB's history of domestic violence IMO he's not a clever planner but you may be onto something - he may very well have a problem with alcohol. IOW prone to be confrontational/hotheaded when drunk as Coast Guard officials in the article upthread claimed.

If that's the case then IMO it's also possible that the couple argued over his drinking and the potential impact it would have on the charter business. Such an argument could easily have led to an unplanned but horrific act. Heck, if alcohol was involved then just about anything could have set off violent behavior.

I haven't read anything that characterizes RB as being devastated by Sarm's disappearance other than his attorney claiming he is. Nor did the pictures of him sitting on his boat drinking beer convince me. But I have read articles that show RB's concern to be himself and that he has been violent towards his partner in the past.

 

[Bogyo13]

I take your point, and get how this could have been a case of self-medicating or similar, to ease the pressure and strain of the situation, or distress or any other negative/intense feeling.

But what then about the uncooperative bit? Assuming he is guilt free (of direct or indirect events that caused Sarm's disappearance), why be uncooperative? This is where the notion of him being distrusting of authorities once again raises its head. I can't think of many other reasons....

Edited to correct typos.
MOO

Don't get me wrong, I'm quite convinced he's got something to do with the disappearance of Sarm JMO

He's been way too uncooperative, all his actions speak of guilt in my opinion.

 

[Pitkin]

The known facts clearly point the finger of suspicion at RB. Yet local LE, under the watchful eye of the FBI and Hampshire (UK) Police, say they don't have probable cause to search the boat or arrest him.

It's hard to comprehend what more probable cause they would need.

Furthermore, I found this which suggests LE could perform a 'limited' search of the vessel under guise of a documentation check, even without probable cause:

Vessel Searches

Taking everything into account, I remain convinced there is something bigger at stake which prevents RB being investigated at the moment.

All moo. And only time will tell.

 

[Mandalas]

The known facts clearly point the finger of suspicion at RB. Yet local LE, under the watchful eye of the FBI and Hampshire (UK) Police, say they don't have probable cause to search the boat or arrest him.

It's hard to comprehend what more probable cause they would need.

Furthermore, I found this which suggests LE could perform a 'limited' search of the vessel under guise of a documentation check, even without probable cause:

Vessel Searches

Taking everything into account, I remain convinced there is something bigger at stake which prevents RB being investigated at the moment.

All moo. And only time will tell.

When you say "something bigger at stake" @Pitkin, what sort of things to you mean, hypothetically speaking? I'm very much a novice (naive) in these things, too trusting at times, and and can't always see beyond the obvious. Do you mean like possibly drugs or other nefarious organised crime?

 

[Pitkin]

When you say "something bigger at stake" @Pitkin, what sort of things to you mean, hypothetically speaking? I'm very much a novice (naive) in these things, too trusting at times, and and can't always see beyond the obvious. Do you mean like possibly drugs or other nefarious organised crime?

Hi @Mandalas. Imo, yes.

Recent prior posts give more info on a major drugs operation. This would explain why the FBI is in USVI but not why they have an interest in SH's disappearance. It could mean there is a connection.

MOO!

 

[Midwestmom2019]

Ryan Bane Was ‘Drunk And Uncooperative’ When Coast Guard Met With Him After Sarm Heslop’s Disappearance

CRUZ BAY — Police are pressing the boyfriend of a British woman missing from St. John for nearly three months to begin cooperating fully with their investigation.

Sarm Heslop’s Michigan boyfriend Ryan Bane has refused to allow police to search his boat, from where he says she disappeared in the early hours of March 8.

Bane also refused to allow the Coast Guard full access to his boat, Siren Song, after telling them he had been woken by the anchor alarm and found her gone.[/

That’s where the Coast Guard had the opportunity that was missed. I’d bet because the Coast Guard was entitled to a full search, they could have and probably should have taken it up with an enforcing authority.