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Sarm Heslop: Caribbean island police criticised over CCTV | Sarm Heslop: Caribbean island police criticised over CCTV |
(4 months later) | |
More than 18 months after Sarm Heslop vanished, what happened to the former flight attendant is still unclear | More than 18 months after Sarm Heslop vanished, what happened to the former flight attendant is still unclear |
The family and friends of a woman missing from a yacht off the US Virgin Islands have criticised police for not releasing footage of her last sighting. | The family and friends of a woman missing from a yacht off the US Virgin Islands have criticised police for not releasing footage of her last sighting. |
Sarm Heslop, from Southampton, was reported missing by her boyfriend Ryan Bane off St John on 8 March 2021. | Sarm Heslop, from Southampton, was reported missing by her boyfriend Ryan Bane off St John on 8 March 2021. |
A year after she vanished, her parents met with police where they were shown footage of the couple leaving a bar. | A year after she vanished, her parents met with police where they were shown footage of the couple leaving a bar. |
They say the clothes their daughter was wearing in the video did not match those reported by Mr Bane. | They say the clothes their daughter was wearing in the video did not match those reported by Mr Bane. |
The BBC has contacted Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) and Mr Bane's lawyer for comment. | The BBC has contacted Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) and Mr Bane's lawyer for comment. |
The former flight attendant is believed to have gone for dinner in St John with Mr Bane on 7 March | The former flight attendant is believed to have gone for dinner in St John with Mr Bane on 7 March |
Ms Heslop's parents, Peter Heslop and Brenda Street, had previously been told there was no CCTV recording from the bar "420 to Center", her friends in the UK have said. | Ms Heslop's parents, Peter Heslop and Brenda Street, had previously been told there was no CCTV recording from the bar "420 to Center", her friends in the UK have said. |
But when they visited the island in March - a year after their daughter's disappearance - they were shown the footage of the couple as they left the bar. | But when they visited the island in March - a year after their daughter's disappearance - they were shown the footage of the couple as they left the bar. |
In the CCTV Ms Heslop is seen wearing either a skirt or shorts and a top, the BBC was told. | In the CCTV Ms Heslop is seen wearing either a skirt or shorts and a top, the BBC was told. |
"Her boyfriend, Ryan Bane, told police and Sarm's parents and friends that she was wearing a black dress with flowers on. | "Her boyfriend, Ryan Bane, told police and Sarm's parents and friends that she was wearing a black dress with flowers on. |
"There was not a black dress with flowers on in her belongings when these were returned to her parents some months after her disappearance," her friends added. | "There was not a black dress with flowers on in her belongings when these were returned to her parents some months after her disappearance," her friends added. |
Sarm Heslop had been staying on the catamaran Siren Song with her boyfriend, Ryan Bane | Sarm Heslop had been staying on the catamaran Siren Song with her boyfriend, Ryan Bane |
Her parents and friends say they have repeatedly asked the island's police for a copy of the CCTV footage so they could release it to the media. | Her parents and friends say they have repeatedly asked the island's police for a copy of the CCTV footage so they could release it to the media. |
"But the USVI Police have declined to provide this stating that it would jeopardise the ongoing investigation. | "But the USVI Police have declined to provide this stating that it would jeopardise the ongoing investigation. |
"Why would police not release the CCTV footage of Sarm's last movements?" they said. | "Why would police not release the CCTV footage of Sarm's last movements?" they said. |
Since Ms Heslop's family visited St John in March "little to no communication has been received from the US authorities regarding the investigation", they added. | Since Ms Heslop's family visited St John in March "little to no communication has been received from the US authorities regarding the investigation", they added. |
Peter Heslop and Brenda Street visited the island in March 2022 - they hoped being on the island would help them piece together their daughter's last movements | Peter Heslop and Brenda Street visited the island in March 2022 - they hoped being on the island would help them piece together their daughter's last movements |
Peter Heslop and Brenda Street visited the island in March 2022 - they hoped being on the island would help them piece together their daughter's last movements | Peter Heslop and Brenda Street visited the island in March 2022 - they hoped being on the island would help them piece together their daughter's last movements |
Ms Heslop, a former flight attendant, had been staying and working with Mr Bane, a US citizen, on the catamaran. | Ms Heslop, a former flight attendant, had been staying and working with Mr Bane, a US citizen, on the catamaran. |
He reported her missing to police at 02:30 on 8 March but it was a further nine hours before he called the coastguard, shortly after 11:45. | He reported her missing to police at 02:30 on 8 March but it was a further nine hours before he called the coastguard, shortly after 11:45. |
Ms Heslop's possessions, including her bank cards and mobile phone, were still onboard the catamaran when she vanished. | Ms Heslop's possessions, including her bank cards and mobile phone, were still onboard the catamaran when she vanished. |
US citizen Mr Bane reported Sarm Heslop missing to police at 02:30 on 8 March | US citizen Mr Bane reported Sarm Heslop missing to police at 02:30 on 8 March |
In April 2021, the island's police force said detectives had been unable to confirm if she was onboard the catamaran as reported by Mr Bane on 7 March. | In April 2021, the island's police force said detectives had been unable to confirm if she was onboard the catamaran as reported by Mr Bane on 7 March. |
Mr Bane, the last person to have seen her, has previously declined detectives' request for an interview, according to the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD). | Mr Bane, the last person to have seen her, has previously declined detectives' request for an interview, according to the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD). |
A full forensic search of the catamaran has never been carried out. | A full forensic search of the catamaran has never been carried out. |
Ms Heslop's friends set up a Facebook page to share information about her disappearance and previously offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information. | Ms Heslop's friends set up a Facebook page to share information about her disappearance and previously offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information. |
Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. |
Related Topics | |
Southampton | |
US Virgin Islands |
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