Sarm Heslop, 41 years old, had lived and worked on the catamaran. It is currently up for sale and her family is asking the U.S. Virgin Islands authorities search the boat before any sale. Her loved ones claim that Siren Song has never been subject to a full forensic investigation.
“Once the boat is sold any evidence which could hold vital clues to Sarm’s disappearance will be lost forever and that would be devastating,” Heslop’s friends said in a statement. “The smallest clue could hold the key. This could have been a crime scene; without the search, we will never know.”
Heslop’s friends, who are based in England, said they discovered the boat was on sale after locals of the U.S. Virgin Islands had contacted them.
The Siren Song has been listed on sale for about $229,000 and all names and signage had been removed from the exterior of the catamaran, her friends said, adding that her boyfriend Ryan Bane had been the one to list the boat for sale.
Heslop, an ex-flight attendant from Southampton, England went missing seven years ago. She was last seen in March 2021. According to those who searched for her, she was working on Siren Song for Bane (who owns the boat for his charter company), they said.
The couple had docked the boat near Frank Bay on St. John Island for dinner plans. COVID-related curfews had been in place at the time. Restaurants and bars were closed at 10 p.m. on each night.
Bane reported her missing a few hours later, at 2:30 a.m., Monday March 8. He was instructed to go back to his boat to report the disappearance to Coast Guard. He did this hours later, around noon.
Authorities previously denied permission to search the boat. However, Bane through David Cattie, his attorney, challenged the claim that his catamaran was not searched. He claimed that the Coast Guard had conducted an inspection. “on-site inspection of the vessel and an on-sight interview without limitation.”
Bane also denies any involvement in the disappearance of Bane and is still being interviewed. “devastated”According to his attorney, the incident occurred because of Fox News. Inside Edition Digital reached Cattie to provide comment.
St. John, a small island with approximately 4,100 inhabitants, has a few dozen charter businesses that offer sightseeing and fishing tours for tourists. St. John is about 45 minutes by ferry from St. Thomas. It has a tight-knit community and many people who live there know each other.
A reward of up to $10,000 is offered for more information that leads to a significant breakthrough in the case, and her friends have raised another $13,500 (£10,000) on GoFundMeYou can increase your reward. Crime Stoppers USVI is available at (800-222-TIPS) for more information.
