New details emerge about woman who vanished from boyfriend's yacht
Concerning details have emerged about the mysterious disappearance of British woman Sarm Heslop who vanished without a trace from her boyfriend's yacht in the Caribbean.
Ms Heslop, 41, was staying with her boyfriend, American yachtsman Captain Ryan Bane, on the Siren Song vessel, moored at Frank Bay on the St John Virgin Island, when she disappeared on March 7.
She was reported missing by her boyfriend a day later. It is believed she vanished some time between 10pm, when she returned from dinner, and 2am when Mr Bane discovered she was missing.
While there have been suggestions Ms Heslop fell from the catamaran, friends told local media they found that scenario "incredibly difficult" to believe as the boat was in shallow water.
With broad scale land and sea searches underway, police have reportedly been denied access to the yacht by Mr Bane, who according to the BBC sought legal advice after reporting Ms Heslop missing.
"Soon after reporting Ms Heslop missing, Mr Bane acquired the services of an attorney," Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) spokesman Toby Derima told the broadcaster.
"Upon his attorney's advice, Mr Bane exercised his constitutional right to remain silent and denied officers' requests to search the vessel."
The A$89,000 boat was anchored just 36 metres from the shoreline, casting doubt over theories she had somehow become lost at sea or drowned.
A friend of Ms Heslop said someone had heard a scream on the night she went missing.
"We are aware that, at 1am that morning, between the 10pm and 2am timeframe, somebody who was walking their dogs came forward and said they heard a scream," friend Laura Taylor told the UK's The Daily Mirror.
"He was walking his dogs and he heard a scream, heard a female scream. He heard it from the bayside. It's really important to note how close the boat is. A lot of people have been reporting she's lost at sea. She's not. [The boat] is only [36 metres] from the shore."
Ms Heslop's belongings including her passport and phone were all left on the boat, according to her friends.
"She would not just disappear, leaving no trace. She is savvy and sensible, it's not like her at all, it just doesn't make sense," friends who set up the Missing Person: Sarm Heslop Facebook page said in a statement.
A search of the water has so far not returned any clues into Ms Heslop's disappearance.
Ms Heslop is described as Caucasian and has a tattoo on her left shoulder.
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