The arrest of an American woman for carrying ammunition in Turks and Caicos Islands has sparked concern from her family, who are urging for her safe return. Sharitta Grier, 45, is among five Americans detained in the islands since February for similar offenses.
The arrest of Sharitta Shinese Grier, a 45-year-old Florida woman, for carrying ammunition at an airport in the Turks and Caicos Islands has heightened concern among her family and advocacy groups. Grier's mother, Willie Lucas, expressed her distress upon leaving her daughter on the island and returning to their home in Florida.
"I didn't want to come home," Lucas told FOX 35. "I was just so heartbroken leaving my daughter over there."
Grier's detention marks the fifth arrest and detention of Americans in the Turks and Caicos Islands since February for carrying ammunition. The other individuals include Ryan Watson of Oklahoma, Tyler Wenrich of Virginia, Bryan Hagerich of Pennsylvania, and Michael Lee Evans of Texas.
Lucas expressed her hope that her daughter would remain safe and requested prayers for her family. "Be safe when you go out of town. Just be safe. Be careful and keep us in your prayers, cuz God knows we sure gonna need it," Lucas said.
Chanchy Willis, Grier's cousin, dismissed the ammunition that was found as a "horrible mistake."
"Just for two bullets? It was just a horrible mistake for all five," Willis stated.
Following the posting of bail, Grier joined four other Americans in a rental property on the island as they awaited an uncertain future. The five could potentially face up to 12 years in prison.
"Watching the others and how they are close-knit, and reaching out to her, showing her that she's not alone, they are all in this together, that brings joy to my heart," Willis said.
Watson, Hagerich, and Wenrich's father have previously spoken to Fox News Digital about their arrests over stray ammunition found in their luggage. All three men maintained that they were traveling home from their respective vacations when TCI airport security officials discovered stray bullets in their bags.
They asserted that they had no intention of bringing ammo to the islands but had forgotten it in their bags from prior hunting trips.
"We had no intentions of ever bringing anything into this country. . . . It was just trying to pack board shorts and flip-flops, and that was all we were concerned about bringing," Watson told Fox News Digital. "So … it never dawned on us to research any of these things. And there are a lot of locals that have been just such a blessing and have had such gracious hearts."
The detainees must present their case before the TCI Superior Court, arguing that they were arrested under "exceptional circumstances." This includes proving their lack of prior criminal records, their lack of intent to bring ammunition into the airport, and why a 12-year sentence would be excessive in their cases.
Grier is scheduled to appear before a judge on July 5.
Three US governors have requested the release of the Americans detained in the Turks and Caicos Islands, citing the unintentional nature of the offense and the excessive nature of the potential sentence.
The incident has raised concerns about the strict laws regarding ammunition possession in the Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as the potential for unintentional arrests of tourists and travelers.
