The desperate mother of a British sailor who vanished without a trace from a catamaran in the Caribbean has made a heart-wrenching plea for information, as the FBI is now involved in the international search.
Sarm Heslop, a 41-year-old former flight attendant from Southampton, disappeared on the night of March 7th, 2021. She was living and sailing aboard the 'Siren Song,' a 47ft catamaran, with her American boyfriend, Captain Ryan Bane.
The vessel was anchored off the coast of St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands when the alarm was raised. According to reports, Bane claimed he last saw Sarm when they went to sleep, only to discover her missing during a 2 a.m. check.
A Mother's Agonising Wait
Speaking from her home, Sarm's mother, Brenda Street, voiced her utter devastation and frustration at the lack of answers. "I just want to know where she is. I want to know what's happened to my daughter," she told reporters, her voice etched with pain. "Somebody must know something. Please, if you have any information, come forward."
Brenda described her daughter as a "vivacious, fun-loving, and beautiful soul" who had a passion for the ocean and adventure. The family's nightmare has been compounded by the agonisingly slow progress of the initial investigation.
Questions Surround the Investigation
The case has been plagued by puzzling details from the outset. Local authorities did not conduct a full forensic search of the catamaran until four days after Sarm was reported missing. Furthermore, Captain Ryan Bane, the last person to see her alive, reportedly refused to allow police to search the vessel without a warrant on the night she disappeared.
He has since left the US Virgin Islands and, according to Sarm's family, has ceased all communication with them. This has left them with more questions than answers about the final hours of their daughter's disappearance.
FBI Joins the Search for Answers
After three years of relentless campaigning by Sarm's family and friends, a significant breakthrough has occurred. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has officially confirmed its involvement in the case, taking over the primary investigation from the Virgin Islands Police Department.
This development has given the Heslop family a renewed, albeit cautious, sense of hope. They believe the FBI's resources and reach are crucial to uncovering the truth about what happened to Sarm that night in the calm Caribbean waters.
The family, along with a dedicated team of private investigators, continues to appeal to the public for any information, no matter how small, that could lead them to Sarm.
