Sarm Heslop’s best friend has revealed the missing Brit’s family want UK police to launch their own probe into her disappearance.
As they face their second Christmas without her, Kate Owen says Sarm’s loved ones – including heartbroken mum Brenda – have become increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress by cops in the US Virgin Islands.
And they have made a fresh appeal to investigators here, desperately hoping a team of British officers will finally uncover what happened to her.
Kate told the Sunday People : “What we really want more than anything else in the world right now is for the UK police to get involved.
“There’s been no investigation this side, and the one over there hasn’t given us any answers.
“We’re no clearer as to what happened that night than at the start. We need them to get involved.”
Ex-air hostess Sarm vanished on March 8 last year after leaving a bar on the paradise isle of St John with wealthy boyfriend Ryan Bane, heading back to his £500,000 catamaran.
At 2.30am Bane called 911 and reported that he had been woken by the boat’s anchor alarm and found Sarm missing. He was advised to contact the US Coast Guard but did not do so until nine hours later.
And he was later cited for allegedly obstructing their agents who tried to board, reportedly blocking a doorway.
Bane, convicted in 2011 for assaulting a previous partner, has refused to speak to detectives or let them search his 47ft catamaran – which he put up for sale. His lawyer David Cattie has said his client had been left “heartbroken” by Sarm’s disappearance and he had no hand in any wrongdoing.
Kate had worked alongside Sarm, of Southampton, for the now defunct airline FlyBe and went with her to the US Virgin Islands before she met Bane.
She said: “We’d like the UK police ideally to travel to the US Virgin Islands to question Ryan.
“Sarm deserves someone out there asking questions. They want to help and are willing to, they just need to be invited by the US Virgin Islands Police.”
Sarm’s family also want British police to forensically examine Sarm’s belongings.
And they have urged local cops to publicly release CCTV images, said to show Sarm heading with Bane to his boat.
Kate said: “The police still have Sarm’s iPhone and iPad. We want them released – we don’t know if they’ve been looked at properly, including checking location data.
“If they could be sent back to her mum we could get our police to look and find out, have messages been deleted? Or was anything done with her phone?
“Did she definitely go back to the boat, or did they go elsewhere? We’re coming up to two years in March. How can they still be investigating those belongings?”
The CCTV was shown to mum Brenda on a visit in March. But she says it raised yet more questions. Kate said: “She isn’t sure the video actually came to an end or if the policewoman stopped it.
“We want to get the CCTV footage released, it’s so vital. Was it Sarm and Ryan? Was it that actual night? Because Sarm wasn’t wearing the clothes that Ryan said she was wearing on the night.”
Kate said they worry that the case has actually been shelved. She added: “It’s frustrating. But it isn’t going to go away. We are going to keep pushing. Her friends and family are doing the investigation – we shouldn’t have to be.
“Sarm is a UK citizen missing abroad and we want the UK police to investigate.
“I don’t know if they don’t want to be seen to not do it themselves, but the US Virgin Islands police should invite the UK police to help.”
Brenda and a group of Sarm’s friends met for a meal and drink on Monday for her 43rd birthday. Kate said: “December is a hard month, with her birthday and Christmas. She loved both – with all the food and drink, and seeing her family.”
Hampshire Police said the force was giving the family support where it could.
Det Insp Matt Gillooly added: “Sarm’s disappearance is understandably troubling. We will always be available to assist the US Virgin Islands Police Department as and when requested.”
