The mother of a British woman who has been missing for two years says she believes her daughter is dead.
Sarm Heslop, 41, from Hampshire, was last seen as she left a bar in St John, in the US Virgin Islands on March 7, 2021.
She had been with US citizen, and boyfriend at the time, Ryan Bane who reported her missing from his catamaran, the Siren Song, at 2.30am local time on March 8.
The pair had left the boat where the former flight attendant had been staying the previous evening to have dinner.
Speaking to the BBC, her mother Brenda Street, 66, said she believes her daughter is dead as the investigation has failed to find any new leads.
She added: “I feel I should grieve. I don’t know how to. My heart’s broken.”
US Virgin Islands Police are treating Ms Heslop’s disappearance as a missing persons case.
Ms Street added: “They just seem to try and push it under the carpet. I had an email from the VIPD a couple of weeks ago. That’s the first time in 18 months. It said, ‘Hope you’re doing well, have you any further information?’
“My relationship with the authorities is non-existent, they just ignore us. We sent a long list of questions - lawful and legal ones - but they just didn’t reply to us.”
Kate Owen, one of Ms Heslop’s closest friends travelled to the Caribbean to spend time with the couple, who had met via Tinder.
She said: “They had just returned from a charter - it sounded like they were having a drink and just relaxing - there was nothing in that message that made me think she wasn’t happy or in any danger.
“You can’t grieve this because we know she’s not coming back but there are still so many questions about what happened and why is she not here.”
Ms Heslop is described as a Caucasian female, 5’8” inches tall and of slim build.
She has a brightly coloured tattoo on her left shoulder featuring a seahorse, a bird, a butterfly, and a pink flower.
A Facebook page has been set up to help gather information regarding Ms Heslop’s disappearance and a GoFundMe page has also raised over £11,000.
The VIPD continues to search for 81-year-old Michael “Dodor” Emmanuel, who was reported missing on February 19, and for 41-year-old Sarm Joan Lillian Heslop, who was reported missing on March 8. If you have information on either of their whereabouts, you are urged to call police. pic.twitter.com/5EzasaSDym
— United States Virgin Islands Police Department (@VirginIslandsPD) March 24, 2021
Hampshire Police previously provided support to the US Virgin Islands Police.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Gillooly said: “Hampshire Constabulary cannot comment further on another force’s investigation, but will always be available to assist the US Virgin Islands Police Department as and when requested.”
The US Virgin Islands Police previously said a search for Ms Heslop was still ongoing.
