More than four years after British yachtswoman Sarm Heslop vanished in the US Virgin Islands, her boyfriend, Ryan Bane, has spoken publicly for the first time.
In a lengthy five-page open letter, Bane strongly denied any role in her disappearance and insisted he and Sarm were a “loving, caring couple.”
Defending His Actions After Sarm’s Disappearance
Bane, now 49, argued that he has lived under a “false sense of suspicion” since Sarm went missing from his yacht, Siren Song, in March 2021.
He explained that his controversial decisions—refusing to be questioned, hiring a lawyer, and denying a forensic search of the yacht—were simply legal precautions.
“My decision was framed as suspicious rather than prudent,” he wrote, insisting that he had only followed his attorney’s advice to protect his rights.
CCTV Footage Shows Couple Together Hours Before Disappearance
His comments come just days after the BBC released a documentary, Missing in Paradise: Searching for Sarm.
The program included newly uncovered CCTV footage from March 7, 2021, showing Sarm and Bane walking hand-in-hand along a dock in St. John before boarding a dinghy to return to his yacht.
“The footage shows us as affectionate and relaxed,” Bane said, adding that it also matched his earlier description of what Sarm was wearing that night. It was the last known sighting of her alive.
A Timeline That Raises More Questions
According to Bane, he woke at 2 a.m. when the anchor alarm sounded and discovered Sarm was gone.
His lawyer later suggested she might have hit her head and fallen overboard, or gone for a swim and drowned.
But doubts quickly grew. Bane phoned police at 2:30 a.m. to report her missing but waited another nine hours before alerting the US Coast Guard—an unexplained delay that has fueled suspicion ever since.
Pushing Back Against Media and Investigators
In his letter, Bane accused the media of ignoring court records and presenting “misleading narratives.”
He also pointed to “serious gaps” in how the case was handled by authorities, claiming delays in reporting and lost evidence left the investigation riddled with holes.
Despite hiring a private investigator, Bane has refused to release any of the findings, arguing that they could help the case but stopping short of making them public.
Scrutiny of Bane’s Past
Attention has also turned to Bane’s past. Court records reveal he was convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence against his ex-wife, Cori Stevenson, in 2011 and sentenced to 60 days in jail.
Stevenson later sought protection orders, though they were denied.
Bane admitted the conviction but flatly denied harming Sarm.
His ex-wife, however, rejected his claims, saying: “His focus is on clearing his name. Nothing to do with finding Sarm.”
She described years of abuse and said she has only recently come to terms with the impact it had on her life.
Clashing Over “Person of Interest” Label
Bane also expressed frustration at being branded a “person of interest,” which he argued carries no legal weight.
“It is not a charge, not a finding… it is legally meaningless,” he wrote, accusing the media of using the term to fuel suspicion.
A Mother’s Desperate Plea for Answers
Sarm’s mother, Brenda Street, continues to fight for clarity.
She has even appealed directly to Donald Trump, urging him to push for a full investigation.
“I think Trump is likely to do more than anyone else so far,” she told The Mirror.
Street wants Bane compelled to allow a forensic search of his yacht and provide a detailed account of his movements that night.
“If his conscience is clear, he would co-operate,” she said, adding: “He’s the only person of interest because there was nobody else around.”
What Comes Next?
For now, the mystery remains unsolved. Bane insists he has been unfairly vilified, while Sarm’s family continues to demand answers.
With public pressure mounting and fresh scrutiny from the media, the question lingers: will new evidence ever emerge to finally reveal what happened on Siren Song that night?