BEAUTIFUL PLACES ON EARTH.
>> OUR 911 DISPATCHER GOT A CALL
SOMEONE'S MISSING. >> THERE'S A WOMAN WHO ALLEGEDLY
FELL OVERBOARD, AND THAT'S ALL WE KNOW.
>> WE SEND DIVERS OUT, WE DID AERIAL SEARCHES.
>> Reporter: AND NOTHING >> NOTHING
>> IT IS ALMOST LIKE A VANISHING ACT.
>> Reporter: TIME IS TICKING HERE, AND THERE'S NO SIGHT OF
HER. >> IT'S JUST AN OVERWHELMING
FEELING! >> Reporter: WHAT DID THAT
SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOW YOU? >> TWO INDIVIDUALS GETTING ON A
DINGHY, AND GOING INTO THE WATERS
>> THE FACT THAT NO BODY WAS FOUND IS VERY SUSPICIOUS
>> IT'S HEART WRENCHING EVERYDAY
SHE IS AN HONEST AND TRUTHFUL FRIEND
SHE'S GOT A REAL LUST FOR LIFE >> HOW CAN YOU GIVE UP ON YOUR
FRIEND WHERE ON EARTH IS SHE?
>> Reporter: IT'S ANDREA CANNING
FROM "DATELINE." COULD WE TALK TO YOU
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SARM?
*
>> HERE'S ANDREA CANNING WITH
"SIREN SONG. >>> THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS OF
SAINT THOMAS, SAINT CROIX AND SAINT JOHN EARNED THE NICKNAME,
"AMERICA'S PARADISE" FOR THEIR MILES OF WHITE SANDY BEACHES AND
IMPOSSIBLY BLUE WATER. >> THE SAILING'S THE BEST IN THE
WORLD. GREAT FOR SNORKELIN'
GREAT FOR ALL WATER ACTIVITIES >> ITS THE EASTERNMOST POINT OF
THE UNITED STATES. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL TROPICAL
ISLAND >> Reporter: IT'S TRULY A "WISH
YOU WERE HERE" DESTINATION SO BREATHTAKING, IT'S HARD TO
IMAGINE SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENING IN THIS IDYLLIC PLACE.
BUT, OF COURSE IT DOES ON MARCH 8, 2021, A BEAUTIFUL,
FORMER FLIGHT ATTENDANT MOVED HERE FOR LOVE AND HER DREAM JOB.
WEEKS LATER, THE WOMAN WITH A LUST FOR ADVENTURE DISAPPEARED
WITHOUT A TRACE. >> IT IS ALMOST LIKE A VANISHING
ACT. YOU KNOW, ALL HER PERSONAL
BELONGINGS ARE STILL ON THE BOAT
NO ONE SAW ANYTHING. >> Reporter: IT'S A MYSTERY THAT
MADE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES FOR HER FRIENDS BACK IN ENGLAND,
THE NEWS WAS DEVASTATING >> I JUST SOBBED
SOBBED THEN I JUST WAS ON THE FLOOR, JUST HYPERVENTILATIN', I
GUESS. I WAS JUST PANICKIN'
>> Reporter: TONIGHT, "DATELINE" TRAVELS TO PARADISE TO TRY TO
FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WOMAN NAMED SARM HESLOP.
CAN THE HELICOPTER SEE INTO THE WATER?
COULD IT SEE A BODY FROM UP THERE?
AND TO TRACK DOWN THE LAST PERSON KNOWN TO HAVE SEEN HER
ALIVE. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE SARM
IS OUR STORY BEGINS OFF THE ISLAND
OF SAINT JOHN, SPRING BREAK 2021
TOURISTS WERE TRAVELING AGAIN. EVERY HOTEL WAS SOLD OUT, EVERY
SAILBOAT BOOKED. ANCHORED JUST A SHORT DISTANCE
FROM SHORE WAS A 47 FOOT LUXURY CATAMARAN CALLED "SIREN SONG."
ALL WAS QUIET ON A WARM, STARRY MARCH NIGHT WHEN SUDDENLY, AN
UNUSUAL DISTRESS CALL CAME FROM THE BOAT
>> OUR 911 DISPATCHER GOT A CALL AT APPROXIMATELY 2:35 A.M.
>> Reporter: THE CALL WAS MADE BY THE BOAT'S CAPTAIN,
HE SAID HIS BRITISH GIRLFRIEND AND FIRST MATE, SARM HESLOP, WAS
MISSING FROM THE BOAT THEY'D BEEN LIVING AND WORKING ON
THEN U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE COMMISSIONER, TREVOR VELINOR
SAYS OFFICERS RUSHED TO THE DOCK NEAR WHERE THE BOAT WAS
ANCHORED AS THEY APPROACHED, RYAN WAS IN
A DINGHY COMING TOWARD THEM. >> Reporter: SO HE ACTUALLY
LEAVES THE BOAT TO MEET YOUR PEOPLE
>> YES SO OFFICERS MEET HIM ON THE
DOCK, AND HE EXPLAINS THAT "I WENT TO SLEEP, AND -- WHEN I
AWOKE SHE WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.
>> Reporter: RYAN SAID HIS BOAT ALARM HAD WOKEN HIM UP
>> THERE WAS A ANCHOR ALARM THAT ALERTED THAT THE THE BOAT HAD
SHIFTED OR MOVED >> Reporter: DOES RYAN HAVE ANY
IDEA WHERE SHE COULD BE, OR DOES HE HAVE A HUNCH OR A THEORY OR
ANYTHING >> HE SIMPLY SAID, "MAYBE SHE
COULD HAVE FALLEN OFF THE BOAT." >> Reporter: WITH TIME OF THE
ESSENCE, THE OFFICERS BEGAN SEARCHING FOR SARM IN THE DARK
WATERS OF FRANK BAY. >> THEY LIT THE AREA UP, LOOKED
AROUND THE AREA, DID NOT SEE ANYTHING
>> Reporter: DID HE EXPRESS IF THEY HAD FOUGHT, OR IF SHE WAS
UPSET ABOUT ANY -- ANYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, MAY HAVE LED HER
TO LEAVE ON HER OWN? >> NO, HE DID NOT PROVIDE ANY
INFORMATION OF AN ARGUMENT OR ANY TYPE OF DISHARMONY
>> Reporter: INSTEAD, RYAN TOLD THE OFFICERS IT WAS AN
UNEVENTFUL NIGHT. THAT HE AND SARM HAD GONE ASHORE
AROUND 6:30 FOR DINNER >> HE IDENTIFIED THAT THEY HAD
BEEN TO A RESTAURANT I THINK IT WAS 420 ON THE
CENTER >> Reporter: A DIVE BAR POPULAR
WITH THE LOCALS. HE SAID THEY STAYED AT THE
RESTAURANT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF
DID HE SAY IF THEY HAD BEEN DRINKING ANYTHING, YOU KNOW,
THAT MIGHT HAVE IMPAIRED HER JUDGMENT
>> MR. BANE INDICATED THAT THEY WERE DRINKING.
BUT HIS EMPHASIS WAS THAT HE WENT TO SLEEP, HE AWOKE, AND SHE
WAS NOWHERE ON THE BOAT. >> Reporter: AFTER THAT BRIEF
INTERVIEW, THE POLICE LEFT, WITHOUT SEARCHING RYAN'S BOAT.
OFFICERS SAY THEY TOLD HIM TO CONTACT THE COAST GUARD, WHICH
HE DID LATER THAT MORNING. >> HE CALLS COAST GUARD SECTOR,
SAN JUAN COMMAND CENTER. THAT IS THE SEARCH AND AREA
COORDINATION CENTER. >> Reporter: LIEUTENANT
COMMANDER JAN LEAGUE SAYS A TEAM SPRUNG INTO ACTION
>> AND THEY LAUNCH OUR 33 FOOT SMALL BOAT
THEY THEN LAUNCH A HELICOPTER -- AN MH-65 OUT OF PUERTO RICO AND
THEY BEGIN AN URGENT MARINE INFORMATION BROADCAST.
>> Reporter: ALERTING THE PUBLIC TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A
41-YEAR-OLD FEMALE WHO MAY HAVE GONE OVERBOARD
COAST GUARD OFFICERS TOOK US TO THE AREA WHERE THEY SEARCHED
YOUR TEAM PULLS UP TO THE "SIREN SONG" IN A BOAT LIKE THIS.
>> EXACTLY THIS 33-FOOTER
>> Reporter: AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WHEN YOU APPROACH "SIREN
SONG"? >> AT THAT POINT, THEY JUST PULL
UP ALONGSIDE, THEY GO ABOARD >> Reporter: AND HOW IS
RYAN BANE REACTING TO THE COAST GUARD ARRIVING
>> HE'S COOPERATIVE. HE SHOWS US ALL OF HER KEYS, HER
PHONE, HER PASSPORT. THEY LOOK ON -- IN THE COCKPIT
THEY DO A QUICK LOOK DOWN THE PASSAGEWAYS.
>> Reporter: WHEN SOMEONE'S PERSONAL BELONGINGS ARE STILL ON
THE BOAT, AND THEY'RE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND, IS THAT A REALLY BAD
SIGN >> WE JUST TAKE IT AS THERE IS
SOMEBODY IN THE WATER, AND WE BEGIN OUR SEARCH ACCORDINGLY
>> Reporter: THE LIEUTENANT COMMANDER'S TEAM USED SOMETHING
CALLED "DRIFT ANALYSIS" TO HELP FOCUS THEIR SEARCH
>> WITH THE GOOD WEATHER, WE CAN QUICKLY COVER A LOT OF THE AREA,
THE SHORELINE AND THE OPEN OCEAN, THE ISOLATED ISLANDS LIKE
WE SEE OVER THERE. >> Reporter: DOES IT HAVE TO
ENTER YOUR MIND AS YOU'RE SEARCHING THAT THERE COULD HAVE
BEEN A CRIME COMMITTED >> NO.
AT THAT POINT, OUR FOCUS, AGAIN, IS ALL SEARCH AND RESCUE
>> Reporter: AFTER A FULL DAY OF SEARCHING --
>> WE STARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 1:00 AND WE
SEARCHED UNTIL SUNSET. >> Reporter: THEY ALSO FOUND
NOTHING. LIKE, WHERE COULD SHE BE
>> THAT, I'M HONESTLY NOT SURE >> Reporter: THE COAST GUARD WAS
PUZZLED. IF SARM HAD DROWNED IN THE
WATERS OFF SAINT JOHN, THEY BELIEVED THEY WOULD HAVE FOUND
HER BODY A MYSTERY IN PARADISE WAS
UNFOLDING. WHERE WAS SARM HESLOP?
>>> WHEN WE COME BACK -- THE SEARCH FOR SARM GROWS DESPERATE,
AND URGENT >> START ROUNDING UP THE TROOPS.
WE'RE NOT GIVING UP UNTIL WE HAVE SOME RESOLUTION
>> IT'S JUST REALLY CONFUSING AS TO WHERE SHE IS.
>> Reporter: DO YOU HAVE ANY HOPE THAT SARM IS STILL ALIVE?
>> I TRY TO! [ CRYING ]
>> Reporter: AS DARKNESS FELL
OVER THE CARIBBEAN WATERS OF SAINT JOHN ON MARCH 8th, 2021,
SARM HESLOP HAD BEEN MISSING FOR MORE THAN 16 HOURS
THE COAST GUARD HAD NO LUCK FINDING HER AND RETURNED TO
THEIR HEADQUARTERS >> THERE WAS NO SIGNS OF ANYONE
IN DISTRESS IN THE WATER AND THEN THE RADIO BROADCAST
ALSO DID NOT RECEIVE ANY -- ANY LEADS.
>> Reporter: DID YOU RESUME SEARCHING THE NEXT DAY
>> NO. WE HAD SUSPENDED OUR SEARCH AND
RESCUE, BUT THERE WAS LOCAL EFFORTS.
>> Reporter: LOCAL VOLUNTEERS, LIKE JEFF JONES WHO RUNS A BOAT
RENTAL BUSINESS. HE HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN
SEARCH AND RESCUE. WHEN YOU GET THE CALL ABOUT THIS
INCIDENT, WHAT ARE YOU TOLD AS FAR AS WHAT THEY KNOW, WHAT --
WHAT'S HAPPENED? >> THERE'S A WOMAN WHO -- WHO
ALLEGEDLY FELL OVERBOARD IN FRANK BAY.
REPORTED MISSING AND AT THIS TIME, THAT'S ALL WE
KNOW SO START ROUNDIN' UP THE TROOPS.
>> Reporter: JEFF AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS GRABBED THEIR SCUBA
GEAR AND HIGH POWERED DRONES AND BEGAN SEARCHING THE WATERS WHERE
SARM WAS LAST SEEN >> MOST LIKELY, BASED ON THE
DATA WE HAVE, SHE WOULD HAVE WASHED INTO FRANK BAY, WHICH
WE'VE -- YOU KNOW, DID EXTENSIVE DIVES.
>> Reporter: JEFF ALSO SERVED ANOTHER ROLE
HE BECAME THE LINK TO SARM'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS
>> I CAN DO MY BEST TO KEEP THEM UPDATED, TO LET THEM KNOW THAT,
"HEY, WE'RE NOT GIVIN' UP. WE STILL WANNA KEEP THIS THING
GOIN' UNTIL WE HAVE SOME RESOLUTION."
>> Reporter: TWO PEOPLE DESPERATELY WAITING FOR JEFF'S
UPDATES WERE VICKI MOGRIDGE-PERCY AND
KATE VERNALLS -- TWO OF SARM'S BEST FRIENDS WHO LIVE THOUSANDS
OF MILES AWAY IN ENGLAND THEY FELT GRATEFUL FOR JEFF AND
THE OTHER VOLUNTEERS >> THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
OUT SNORKELING AND DIVING, LOOKING FOR HER --
>> UH-HUH. >> IT'S THE GENEROSITY OF
STRANGERS. AND IT'S BEEN AWESOME.
>> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED TO SARM
>> I DON'T KNOW. IT'S JUST REALLY CONFUSING AS
TO -- TO WHERE SHE IS. >> Reporter: VICKI HAS KNOWN
SARM FOR YEARS THEY MET WORKING AS FLIGHT
ATTENDANTS, AND VICKI REMEMBERS ALL TOO WELL THEIR FIRST FLIGHT
TOGETHER -- TRANSPORTING A PRISONER
>> I WAS QUITE NERVOUS BY IT, AND HE WAS TRYING TO GET HIS
HANDS OUT THE HANDCUFF IN FLIGHT
AND I WAS LIKE, "GOD, DO YOU SEE WHAT HE'S DOING?
AND SHE'S LIKE, "YEAH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT."
SHE WASN'T FAZED BY THINGS >> Reporter: VICKI DESCRIBES
SARM AS BOLD, FEARLESS, A ONE-OF-KIND WOMAN.
>> SHE'S NOT YOUR 9:00 TO 5:00 KIND OF -- WANTS TO BUY A
HOUSE AND THEN HAVE CHILDREN SHE'S VERY MUCH A SPONTANEOUS
KIND OF PERSON, BUT WITH A VERY DEEP, BEAUTIFUL HEART AND CARED
DEEPLY FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. >> Reporter: KATE, A FORMER
ROOMMATE OF SARM'S, SAYS SHE WASN'T SURPRISED WHEN SARM
STUMBLED INTO SAILING. ONE OF SARM'S FIRST ADVENTURES
WAS ONE MOST ACCOMPLISHED SAILORS WOULDN'T EVEN ATTEMPT.
FRIENDS INVITED HER ON A TRIP ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.
EVER THE ADVENTURER, SARM COULDN'T RESIST THE OFFER.
>> SHE GRABBED IT WITH BOTH HANDS.
SHE MADE SURE THAT SHE WAS QUALIFIED TO DO IT
>> SHE'S BRAVE AND -- AND COURAGEOUS
ISN'T SHE? SO YOU SORT OF ADMIRE HER.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK I WAS A BIT WORRIED IN THE SENSE THAT,
YOU KNOW, YOU ARE TRAVELING ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.
>> Reporter: IT WAS AT THE END OF THAT TRIP, WHEN SARM ARRIVED
IN GRENADA, THAT SHE MET RYAN BANE.
>> THEY MET ON TINDER. >> Reporter: I GUESS YOU DON'T
REALLY THINK ABOUT DATING ON THE HIGH SEAS.
>> NO. NO, I DON'T THINK YOU DO
>> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU SAY, "COME OVER TO MY BOAT," OR,
"I'LL COME OVER TO YOUR BOAT"? >> YEAH, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
NO, THEY -- THEY SEEMED TO HIT IT OFF, WHICH IS GREAT
>> Reporter: BASED ON HIS PROFILE, RYAN APPEARED TO BE THE
PICTURE OF SUCCESS AND SWAGGER THE 44-YEAR-OLD WAS A FORMER
FINANCE GUY WHO TRADED IN HIS SUIT AND TIE FOR SHORTS AND
FLIP-FLOPS IN 2015, HE BEGAN CHARTERING HIS
LUXURY CATAMARAN TO TOURISTS IN THE CARIBBEAN.
SARM TOLD VICKI WHAT SHE FOUND MOST ATTRACTIVE WAS RYAN'S
PERSONALITY. >> SHE LIKED HIS SENSE OF HUMOR.
HE MADE HER LAUGH, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT
SHE'S A VERY, VERY FUNNY GIRL AND ALWAYS MAKING US LAUGH
>> Reporter: IN THE BEGINNING, HER FRIENDS SAY THE RELATIONSHIP
WAS NOTHING SERIOUS. THEY'D ONLY BEEN DATING A LITTLE
WHILE WHEN SARM DECIDED TO LEAVE THE CARIBBEAN AND GO TO MALTA
WHERE SHE HAD CLOSE FRIENDS. >> SHE LEFT AND NEEDED TO GET
SOME WORK. AND SO THAT -- SHE PRIORITIZED
THAT AND WENT TO MALTA AND THEN THEY KEPT IN CONTACT,
AND THEY WERE SPEAKING EVERY DAY.
>> Reporter: BUT SOMETHING WAS CALLING HER BACK TO HIM.
>> YEAH. SHE JUST DECIDED THAT JUST, YOU
KNOW, "WELL, THIS IS A RELATIONSHIP THAT'S WORTH
CONTINUING," AND SO DECIDED TO FLY BACK OUT AND -- AND JOIN HIM
IN THE AMERICAN VIRGIN ISLANDS AT THAT POINT.
>> Reporter: HER FRIENDS SAY THE TIMING WAS PERFECT
SARM NEEDED A JOB, AND RYAN INVITED HER TO COME WORK ON HIS
BOAT IT WAS A CHANCE FOR SARM TO
PURSUE THIS BUDDING RELATIONSHIP AND DO THE THINGS SHE LOVED
MOST -- SAILING AND COOKING. SARM EVEN SHOWED OFF HER
CULINARY SKILLS ON INSTAGRAM THE CLINCHER, THOUGH, WAS RYAN'S
DOG, HUNTER. >> SHE'S A REALLY BIG ANIMAL
LOVER. LIKE, SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVES --
LOVES DOGS >> Reporter: SO OFF SHE WENT TO
BE WITH HER NEW MAN. TO HER FRIENDS, ALL SEEMED WELL.
>> SHE LOOKED SO HAPPY IN ALL HER PHOTOGRAPHS.
AND WHEN WE SPOKE, SHE WAS REALLY, REALLY ENJOYING HERSELF.
IT WAS LIKE THE ULTIMATE OUTDOORS -
>> UH-HUH. >> IT WAS EVERYTHING FROM
PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIPS KIND OF PIECED TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS,
WHAT SEEMS LIKE A GREAT -- GREAT LIFE THAT SHE WAS STARTING
>> Reporter: SHE'D ONLY BEEN LIVING AND WORKING ON
"SIREN SONG" FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
HER FRIENDS NEVER COULD'VE ANTICIPATED THE DARKNESS HEADED
SARM'S WAY DO YOU HAVE ANY HOPE THAT SARM
IS STILL ALIVE >> I TRY TO.
>>> COMING UP -- A CRUCIAL NEW CLUE FROM A SINGLE
SECURITY CAMERA. >> IT SHOWS MR. BANE AND
MISS HESLOP GETTING ON A DINGHY AND GOING INTO THE WATERS.
>> Reporter: YOU HAVE NO REAL CONFIRMATION THAT THEY EVER MADE
IT TO THE BOAT >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> Reporter: THIS IS A REAL MYSTERY.
>> IT IS >> Reporter: THE STORY OF THE
BRITISH WOMAN WHO VANISHED OFF A SAILBOAT IN THE CARIBBEAN WAS
MAKING INTERNATIONAL NEWS. EVERYDAY A NEW ARTICLE ASKED THE
SAME QUESTION, "WHERE WAS SARM HESLOP?
THE POLICE HAD NO ANSWERS. YOUR OFFICERS ARE REALLY LOOKING
AT THREE POSSIBLE SCENARIOS -- SHE WILLINGLY DISAPPEARED, THERE
WAS A TRAGIC ACCIDENT, OR THERE WAS A CRIME.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS.
>> Reporter: HER FRIEND VICKY WAS CERTAIN SARM WOULD NEVER
JUST TAKE OFF WITHOUT TELLING ANYONE
SHE FELT IT IN HER BONES SOMETHING WAS TERRIBLY WRONG
SHE ALSO DOESN'T BELIEVE SARM DROWNED.
>> SHE IS A GOOD SWIMMER WHEN WE TRAIN, RIGHT, AS CABIN
CREW, YOU HAVE TO, IN YOUR CLOTHES, DIVE IN A SWIMMING POOL
AND SWIM ACROSS IT IN YOUR CLOTHES, TO BE ABLE TO PASS YOUR
TRAINING >> Reporter: VICKI GREW
INCREASINGLY WORRIED, AND FRUSTRATED
BECAUSE OF COVID, SHE, KATE, AND THE REST OF SARM'S FRIENDS IN
ENGLAND WERE UNABLE TO TRAVEL TO THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS TO HELP
LOOK FOR HER >> TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, YOU FEEL
A BIT GUILTY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING.
[ CRYING ] WE DON'T WANT HER TO THINK THAT
WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING >> Reporter: IN FACT, SARM'S
FRIENDS WERE DOING A LOT SEVERAL OF THEM FROM DIFFERENT
PARTS OF EUROPE HELD DAILY ZOOM MEETINGS, BRAINSTORMING WAYS TO
KEEP THE MEDIA AND POLICE FOCUSED ON FINDING THEIR FRIEND.
>> SHE WOULD NOT LEAVE HER POSSESSIONS.
>> Reporter: THEY APPEARED ON BRITISH AN
AMERICAN TV. >> WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR YOU,
SARM WE WON'T GIVE UP ON YOU.
>> Reporter: AND SHARED VIDEOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, PLEADING FOR
HELP >> WE WON'T GIVE UP ON YOU,
SARM >> Reporter: YOUR GROUP HAS BEEN
A FORCE, THOUGH. I MEAN, KEEPING THIS -
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: -- IN THE MEDIA,
YOU KNOW, CONNECTING WITH SEARCHERS.
I MEAN, REALLY - >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: -- KEEPING THE STORY ALIVE.
>> UH-HUH. >> WE'VE GOT TO GET IT OUT
THERE. WE CAN'T SIT ON IT AND NOT DO
ANYTHING >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, THE
POLICE WERE FEELING THE PRESSURE
THE COMMISSIONER SAYS HIS TEAM WAS DOING EVERYTHING IT COULD TO
FIND SARM. >> WE SPARE NO RESOURCES
WE SEND DIVERS OUT - CANINE
WE DID AMBULATORY SEARCHES, WE DID AERIAL SEARCHES.
WE PUT FLIERS OUT. >> Reporter: AND NOTHING
>> AND NOTHING >> Reporter: AS THE DAYS TICKED
BY WITH NO SIGN OF SARM, THE POLICE REQUESTED OUTSIDE HELP.
THE FBI GOT INVOLVED IN THIS CASE
>> SO THE FBI WAS ABLE TO -- TO ASSIST IN TRYING TO LOCATE ANY
TYPE OF CAMERA >> Reporter: THEY FOUND ONE
SECURITY CAMERA POINTED RIGHT AT THE SPOT WHERE SARM AND RYAN
LEFT THE ISLAND THAT NIGHT >> IT SHOWS TWO INDIVIDUALS,
MR. BANE AND MISS HESLOP, GETTING ON A DINGHY AND TAKING
OFF ON THE DINGHY, AND GOING INTO THE WATERS IN THE CRUISE
BAY. >> Reporter: AND THEN DO YOU
LOSE THEM FROM THERE LIKE, SO YOU HAVE NO REAL
CONFIRMATION THAT THEY EVER MADE IT TO THE BOAT
>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> Reporter: BRITISH POLICE ALSO
GOT INVOLVED >> WE'VE HAD TO GO BACK THROUGH
TEXT MESSAGES AND EVERYTHING - >> YEAH.
>> -- FOR THE POLICE HERE IN THE U.K.
>> Reporter: ISLAND POLICE LOOKED THROUGH SARM'S PERSONAL
BELONGINGS AND ALSO SEARCHED HER PHONE RECORDS -- ALL DEAD ENDS
THIS IS A REAL MYSTERY THAT YOU HAVE ON YOUR HANDS
>> IT IS >> Reporter: WHEN INVESTIGATORS
SPOKE TO THE OWNER OF THE RESTAURANT ON SAINT JOHN,
"420 TO CENTER," THE ONE SARM AND RYAN WENT TO ON THE NIGHT
SHE DISAPPEARED, HE SAID THEY LOOKED PERFECTLY HAPPY
AND WHEN THEY LOOKED INTO RYAN AND SARM'S RELATIONSHIP, THEY
FOUND NOTHING CONCERNING HER FRIENDS AGREED
THEY'D NEVER MET RYAN BUT SAID IT WAS CLEAR FROM SARM THAT
THINGS WERE GOING WELL THERE WERE NO SMOKE SIGNALS, NO
S.O.S., YOU KNOW, CRYPTIC MESSAGES FROM HER THAT WOULD
LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
>> NO. AND SINCE WE'VE ALL COME
TOGETHER, AS IN HER GROUP OF FRIENDS FROM SPAIN AND -- AND
THE U.K., NO ONE CAN PUT THEIR FINGER ON ANYTHING THAT CASTS
ANY SHADOW OF DOUBT OVER THEIR RELATIONSHIP
>> Reporter: VICKI SAYS THE NIGHT OF THE DISAPPEARANCE, SHE
GOT A TEXT FROM SARM ABOUT LIFE ON THE BOAT.
SHE WASN'T HER BUBBLY SELF, BUT IT DIDN'T CONCERN VICKI.
AT LEAST, NOT AT THE TIME. >> ON THAT EVENING, SHE
LITERALLY JUST SENT ME A TEXT SAYING, "AHHH" -- IN BRACKETS
ABOUT WORK >> Reporter: LIKE, WHAT DO YOU
MEAN "AHHH"? LIKE SCREAMING
>> YEAH, BUT NOT IN A SCREAM WAY, JUST ABOUT, "AHHH, WORK."
LIKE, AS IN MOANING ABOUT WORK, SO I THINK IT WAS JUST HER
COMPLAINING ABOUT WORK I GUESS WHATEVER THAT CHARTER
HAD BEEN LIKE THAT DAY, MAYBE IT'D BEEN REALLY BUSY, I DON'T
KNOW, THE PEOPLE WERE DIFFICULT. >> Reporter: VICKI NEVER GOT TO
FIND OUT WHAT WAS BOTHERING SARM ABOUT WORK
THAT WAS THE LAST TEXT SHE EVER GOT FROM HER
SARM'S FRIENDS WERE HOPING TO GET ANSWERS FROM RYAN.
>> I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HE THINKS HAPPENED
"DID YOU HAVE AN ARGUMENT WHEN YOU GOT BACK TO THE BOAT
WERE YOU HAPPY DID YOU FALL ASLEEP WATCHING A
FILM?" >> Reporter: BUT STRANGELY, HE'D
GONE QUIET AND THEY WEREN'T THE ONLY ONES
GETTING THE SILENT TREATMENT YOU MIGHT REMEMBER, INITIALLY
RYAN HAD COOPERATED WITH AUTHORITIES, BUT LIEUTENANT
COMMANDER LEAGUE SAYS RYAN'S BEHAVIOR QUICKLY SHIFTED
ABOUT 15 HOURS AFTER SARM WAS REPORTED MISSING, COAST GUARD
OFFICERS WENT BACK TO THE "SIREN SONG" FOR A SECOND TIME, AND
BROUGHT ALONG DETECTIVES FROM THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE
DEPARTMENT THEY TRIED TO TALK TO RYAN BANE.
>> YES >> Reporter: TO NO AVAIL
>> NO, RIGHT AT THAT POINT, HE REFUSED TO
ALLOW THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT TO GO ON BOARD.
>> Reporter: AND WHILE THE COAST GUARD WAS ABLE TO BOARD,
ACCORDING TO THE CASE REPORT, "MR. BANE WAS HEAVILY
INTOXICATED AND WAS TELLING THE BOARDING TEAM HE DID NOT WANT
THEM ONBOARD HIS VESSEL. >> AND AT THAT TIME HE ACTUALLY
OBSTRUCTED OUR POST-SEARCH AND RESCUE BOARDING.
>> Reporter: IS IT GETTING TENSE?
>> HE WAS VERY UNCOOPERATIVE >> Reporter: THE COAST GUARD
CITED BANE FOR OBSTRUCTION OF BOARDING, AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT
VIOLATIONS AS FOR THE POLICE, THEY LEFT THE
"SIREN SONG" FRUSTRATED, FILLED WITH UNANSWERED QUESTIONS, AND
NO CLOSER TO FINDING OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO SARM HESLOP.
>>> COMING UP -- A MYSTERY AT SEA
AND SUSPICIONS BEGIN TO SWIRL. >> Reporter: IF SHE HAD FALLEN
OVER, WOULD YOU HAVE EXPECTED THEM TO FIND THE BODY?
>> IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT THEIR BODY WOULD BE FOUND.
THE FACT THAT NO BODY WAS FOUND IS VERY SUSPICIOUS
>> Reporter: IN THE SHORT TIME SARM HESLOP HAD BEEN MISSING,
LOCALS IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS SWAPPED THEORIES ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER SCOT McCHAIN, AN AVID SAILOR AND
A VIRGIN ISLANDS DEFENSE ATTORNEY WITH OVER 23 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE PRACTICING LAW IN THE TERRITORY, THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS
OFF. HE DIDN'T KNOW SARM OR HER
BOYFRIEND RYAN BANE, BUT HE'S VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE WATER
WHERE RYAN'S BOAT, "SIREN SONG," WAS ANCHORED
IN THAT AREA THAT WAS PRETTY CLOSE TO SHORE, IF SHE HAD OF
FALLEN OVER, WOULD YOU HAVE EXPECTED THEM TO FIND THE BODY
>> I THINK THAT IF SOMEONE FALLS OVERBOARD AND DROWNED -- I THINK
IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT THEIR BODY WOULD BE FOUND VERY CLOSE BY THE
BOAT SO I THINK THE FACT THAT NO BODY
WAS FOUND IS VERY SUSPICIOUS >> Reporter: THIS IS THE BIG RED
FLAG FOR YOU >> IT IS A BIG RED FLAG.
>> Reporter: AND AUTHORITIES SAW RED FLAGS OF THEIR OWN
COMMISSIONER VELINOR SAYS NOT ONLY WOULD RYAN NO LONGER SPEAK
TO HIS OFFICERS. HE ALSO REFUSED TO ALLOW THEM TO
SEARCH HIS BOAT FOR CLUES. >> THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.
HE INDICATED, "NO, WE -- I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU ONTO MY BOAT."
>> Reporter: INSTEAD - >> HE INDICATED THAT HE HAD AN
ATTORNEY >> Reporter: THAT WAS QUICK.
>> IT WAS VERY QUICK FROM 2:30 IN THE MORNING, NOW
IT'S ABOUT 4:00 OR 5:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.
>> Reporter: RYAN BANE HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED OR NAMED AS A
SUSPECT IN THE SARM HESLOP MISSING PERSON CASE.
BUT HE DID HIRE A DEFENSE ATTORNEY WHO ADVISED HIM TO STOP
TALKING TO POLICE. THAT DIDN'T SURPRISE
SCOT McCHAIN HE SAYS LAWYERS RECOMMEND THAT
ALL THE TIME BUT IT CAN COME WITH A DOWNSIDE.
>> YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN SOMETHING ILLEGAL.
>> Reporter: IT'S THAT FINE LINE OF, LIKE, IS IT -- IS IT -- IS
IT A SMART THING TO DO, OR DOES IT MAKE YOU LOOK SUSPICIOUS?
>> THE ANSWER IS IT CLEARLY MAKES YOU LOOK SUSPICIOUS.
BUT IT PREVENTS YOU FROM SAYING ANYTHING THAT WOULD IMPLICATE
YOU OR RESULT IN A FINDING OF GUILTY
>> Reporter: AS FOR SARM'S FRIENDS, RYAN'S BEHAVIOR ONLY
ADDED TO THEIR QUESTIONS >> IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAD
HAPPENED TO ME AND I HAD FOUND SOMEONE MISSING, BE IT IN MY
HOME, I WOULD WANT TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO HELP THE
POLICE >> JUST LET THEM SEARCH THE
BOAT AND IF THERE'S NOTHING ON THERE,
THEN FINE. THERE'S NOTHING ON THERE AND WE
STOP LOOKING THERE, DON'T WE >> Reporter: EVEN MORE ALARMING
TO VICKI AND KATE -- THEY LEARNED RYAN DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY
CALL THE COAST GUARD FAR FROM IT.
THE YACHT WAS MOORED HERE IN FRANK'S BAY, AND AFTER RYAN BANE
CALLED THE POLICE, THEN HE REPORTEDLY TOOK NINE HOURS TO
CALL THE COAST GUARD >> WHY
IF YOU THINK SHE'S GONE OVERBOARD, WHY DID YOU NOT LET
THE COAST GUARD START SEARCHING THAT WATER EARLIER
>> Reporter: JAMES STEPHENS, CAPTAIN OF A SIMILAR CATAMARAN
TO "SIREN SONG," SAYS RYAN'S BEHAVIOR THAT NIGHT MAKES NO
SENSE TO HIM IF YOU WOKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE NIGHT AND YOUR FIRST MATE OR SOMEONE ON YOUR BOAT WAS
MISSING, WHAT WOULD YOU DO >> I ABSOLUTELY THINK I WOULD
HAVE GONE TO THE OTHER BOATS I WOULD HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE
SCREAMING TO SEE IF IF THERE WAS A VOICE.
>> Reporter: BUT JAMES, WHO WAS MOORED RIGHT NEXT TO
"SIREN SONG" THE NIGHT SARM DISAPPEARED, SAYS RYAN NEVER
CONTACTED HIM. >> SO I SAW HIS BOAT TUCKED UP
IN PRETTY MUCH THIS LOCATION RIGHT HERE
>> Reporter: IT WAS JUST -- JUST THE TWO BOATS.
YOUR BOAT AND HIS BOAT >> YEP, HIM -- NO, IT WAS MY
BOAT AND THEN THERE WAS ONE OTHER
THAT WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND HIM >> Reporter: HE ALSO SAYS HE
HEARD NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY THAT NIGHT.
NO ARGUING WOKE YOU UP NO LOUD NOISE.
NO -- NO SOUNDS OF A STRUGGLE. >> NOTHING
I MEAN, I WAS 300 FEET AWAY. BUT NOT TO SAY I WOULD WAKE UP
BUT IF SOMEONE WAS SCREAMING, YOU KNOW, LIKE A LIFE CURDLING
SCREAM, I WOULD IMAGINE I'D WAKE UP TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> Reporter: IF THERE WAS A STRUGGLE ON A BOAT AND SOMEONE
DID DIE, I MEAN, WHERE -- WHERE AROUND HERE DO YOU THINK SOMEONE
WOULD TAKE A BODY? >> I MEAN, IT'S 16,000 FEET OUT
THERE, YOU KNOW, 12,000 FEET, I GUESS IT IS, BETWEEN HERE AND
SAINT CROIX. YOU PUT A BODY DOWN TO
12,000 FEET AND WRAP IT UP IN SOME ANCHOR CHAIN AND, NO, IT'S
NOT GOING TO FLOAT BACK UP >> Reporter: WHATEVER DID HAPPEN
THAT NIGHT, JAMES CAN ONLY SPECULATE.
WHAT HE DOES KNOW IS THAT WHEN HE WOKE THE NEXT MORNING AROUND
7:00 A.M., ALL WAS QUIET >> THERE WAS NOTHING HERE.
THERE WAS NO POLICE PRESENCE THERE WAS NO NOTHING OUT OF THE
ORDINARY I JUST PULLED UP MY ANCHOR AND
LEFT >> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT,
RYAN'S ATTORNEY TOLD "DATELINE," "MR. BANE HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
TO DO WITH SARM'S DISAPPEARANCE. HE SPENT UNTOLD HOURS SEARCHING
FOR HER AND REMAINS DEVASTATED THAT SHE IS MISSING.
HIS THOUGHTS, AS ALWAYS, ARE WITH SARM AND HER FAMILY DURING
THIS DIFFICULT TIME. HE ADDED THAT RYAN ALLOWED THE
COAST GUARD ON HIS BOAT TWICE. AND AS FOR WHY HE DIDN'T CALL
THEM RIGHT AWAY, HE SAID RYAN THOUGHT THE POLICE MARINE UNIT
WAS ON ITS WAY STILL, RYAN ISN'T TALKING TO
POLICE OR LETTING THEM SEARCH HIS BOAT
THE POLICE COMMISSIONER ADMITTED TO "DATELINE" HIS TEAM MADE A
MISTAKE BY NOT SEARCHING IT WHEN THEY RESPONDED TO THE 911 CALL
WHY NOT SEARCH THE BOAT AT THAT TIME
>> THAT WAS A DECISION THAT THE OFFICERS MADE AT THAT PARTICULAR
TIME IT WASN'T THE BEST DECISION.
>> Reporter: WHY DO YOU SAY THAT NOW?
>> YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY AREA POSSIBLE IS SEARCHED.
>> Reporter: THE BIG QUESTION I THINK PEOPLE HAVE IS, "WHY NOT
GET A SEARCH WARRANT AND SEARCH RYAN BANE'S BOAT?"
>> YES, SO ABSOLUTELY. SO WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE TERRITORY.
WE'VE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
AND TO THIS POINT, WE'VE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING SEARCH
WARRANTS FOR THE "SIREN SONG." >> Reporter: VELINOR SAID THEY
WERE TOLD THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY A
SEARCH BUT POLICE WERE ABOUT TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT RYAN BANE FROM THIS WOMAN.
TURNS OUT THIS WASN'T RYAN'S FIRST INTERACTION WITH THE LAW
AND, BOY, DID SHE HAVE A STORY TO TELL.
>> THAT MAN SHOULD COME WITH A WARNING LABEL.
>>> COMING UP -- A DARK NEW PICTURE OF RYAN BANE.
>> Reporter: DID YOU THINK YOUR LIFE WAS IN DANGER
>> YES I THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA KILL ME
THAT POOR GIRL HAD NO IDEA WHO HE REALLY IS
WHENDA >> Reporter: A FEW DAYS AFTER
SARM WENT MISSING, POLICE LEARNED TROUBLING INFORMATION
ABOUT RYAN BANE'S PAST THEY GOT A CALL FROM HIS EX-WIFE
WHO TOLD THEM, 10 YEARS EARLIER, RYAN HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF
ASSAULTING HER THE NEWS CAME AS A COMPLETE
SHOCK TO SARM'S FRIENDS. >> IT WAS A GOOSEBUMPS MOMENT,
GOOSEBUMPS ALL OVER MY BODY. IT'S JUST A SINKING FEELING TO
THINK THAT SHE WAS WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAD THAT PAST AND SHE DIDN'T
KNOW >> WE REACHED OUT TO RYAN'S EX,
CORIE STEVENSON, WHO SAT DOWN FOR HER FIRST NETWORK TV
INTERVIEW. SHE TOOK US BACK TO THE
BEGINNING WHEN SHE FIRST MET RYAN, THEY WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL
TOGETHER IN LAKE ORION, MICHIGAN IN THE '90s.
>> AT THAT TIME, I REALLY WASN'T INTERESTED IN KNOWING ANYTHING
ABOUT HIM. >> Reporter: IT WASN'T UNTIL
SEVERAL YEARS AFTER GRADUATING, WHEN SHE RAN INTO RYAN AT A BAR
WITH FRIENDS, THAT SHE TOOK AN INTEREST
>> HE WAS A LOTTA FUN. YOU KNOW, HE WAS FUNNY
HE REALLY GRABBED MY ATTENTION >> Reporter: WAS HE HANDSOME
>> HE'S -- HE'S HANDSOME >> Reporter: AND CHARMING?
>> VERY CHARMING VERY GLITZY AND GLAMOUR AND, YOU
KNOW, MAKES YOU FEEL WONDERFUL >> Reporter: AT THE TIME, CORIE
WAS A SINGLE MOM WITH A YOUNG DAUGHTER AND HAD A JOB WORKING
AS A NANNY RYAN HAD GOTTEN HIS MASTERS
DEGREE AND WAS WORKING IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY.
>> HE LOVES TO TALK ABOUT HIS EDUCATION.
HE LOVES TO TELL EVERYONE HOW EDUCATED HE IS
>> Reporter: EDUCATED, AND FROM A WELL-TO-DO FAMILY IN MICHIGAN.
>> THEY LIVE IN A NICE HOUSE THEY DRIVE NICE CARS
EVERY WEEKEND, THEY GO ON A BOAT, AND IT'S A LARGE BOAT, AND
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A -- AS RYAN WOULD TELL ME, THEY HAVE A SMALL
BOAT ON THE BOAT >> Reporter: IT WAS 2007, AND
CORIE AND RYAN HAD BEEN DATING FOR ABOUT A YEAR
WHEN HE PROPOSED, HE WAS EVERYTHING SHE HAD WANTED.
STILL, SHE HAD SOME BRIEF MOMENTS OF COLD FEET
>> THERE WERE PROBABLY ONLY A COUPLE OF TIMES WHERE HE KINDA
LET THE CRAZY SLIP AND I THOUGHT, "MM."
>> Reporter: LIKE, YOU SAW ANOTHER SIDE OF HIM, YOU'RE
SAYING >> YEAH.
AND I -- I WAS LIKE, "MM, THAT'S A LITTLE CRAZY, TO ACT THIS
WAY," AND -- >> Reporter: WHAT WOULD HE DO?
>> JUST -- IT WAS LIKE -- LIKE THE RAGE WOULD JUST HAPPEN SO
FAST BUT I ONLY SAW IT A COUPLE OF
TIMES, AND THEN HE KINDA LIKE REELED IT IN REAL QUICK.
AND I WOULD THINK, "WELL, EVERYONE HAS BAD DAYS.
>> Reporter: DESPITE HER RESERVATIONS, A YEAR LATER,
CORIE WENT THROUGH WITH THE WEDDING.
BUT SHE SAYS THE HONEYMOON PERIOD DIDN'T LAST, LITERALLY.
>> THERE WAS AN ISSUE ON OUR -- ON OUR HONEYMOON, ACTUALLY
>> WOW I WASN'T EXPECTING IT TO BE THAT
QUICK. >> IT WAS -- IT WAS PRETTY
QUICK. >> Reporter: THEY HAD BEEN
BACKPACKING THROUGH SPAIN, STAYING IN HOSTELS
CORIE SAYS SHE WANTED TO STAY ONE NIGHT IN A NICE HOTEL, BUT
RYAN SAID NO >> I WASN'T REALLY SAYING
ANYTHING BUT I WAS KINDA DISAPPOINTED
AND HE DOESN'T LIKE THAT >> Reporter: THAT YOU WERE
DISAPPOINTED >> THAT I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN
HIM. YEAH
SO WE GOT IN THE ELEVATOR AND HE, LIKE, FREAKED OUT, AND HE
ACTUALLY GRABBED ME BY THE SHOULDERS AND SHOVED ME TO THE
FLOOR. >> Reporter: IN THE ELEVATOR
>> IN THE ELEVATOR ON OUR -- >> Reporter: ON YOUR -
>> -- HONEYMOON. >> Reporter: ON YOUR HONEYMOON
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: THE TRIP WAS RUINED
AND CORIE TOLD RYAN SHE WANTED TO GO HOME
>> WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE FOR TWO WEEKS AND WE LEFT AFTER
TEN DAYS >> Reporter: SHE SAYS LIFE GOT
BACK TO NORMAL BUT OVER TIME, THINGS ESCALATED
>> THE LONGER WE WERE TOGETHER, THE -- THE WORSE IT WAS.
IN THE BEGINNING, IT WAS LITTLE THINGS
IT WAS, YOU KNOW, HE WASN'T HAPPY ABOUT SOMETHING SO HE'D
PUSH OR SHOVE ME HE'D THROW WATER BOTTLES AT ME.
HIT ME WITH WATER BATTLES. >> Reporter: SHOULDN'T YOU BE
RUNNING? >> I KNEW THAT I HAD TO LEAVE.
BUT AT THAT POINT, I HAVE NO SELF-ESTEEM WHATSOEVER
LIKE, HE'S ALREADY MADE ME FEEL LIKE I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT HIM, I
CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT HIM. AND AT THAT POINT, I FELT LIKE I
WAS TRAPPED, I KNEW I WAS TRAPPED.
HE TOLD ME I WAS TRAPPED >> Reporter: CORIE SAYS SHE WAS
TRAPPED BY A MASTER MANIPULATOR. THAT RYAN, IN CHARGE OF THEIR
FINANCES DIDN'T ALLOW HER ACCESS TO THEIR MONEY, SO
OUT-OF-CONCERN FOR HER DAUGHTER, SHE STAYED
AND THEN YOU SAY THAT -- THAT THINGS REALLY HIT ROCK BOTTOM.
>> YEAH. WE'D GONE TO A WEDDING AND WAS
DRINKING, AND IT WAS -- I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE WE WERE.
>> Reporter: SHE WAS THE DESIGNATED DRIVER.
RYAN WANTED TO SLEEP >> THIS IS BEFORE, YOU KNOW, ALL
THE IPHONES AND THINGS LIKE THAT
SO I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO GET HOME, AND I'M ASKING HIM
DIRECTIONS AND HE JUST STARTS YOU KNOW, HE
JUST STARTS SCREAMING. BASICALLY, I MEAN, IMAGINE AN
OUT-OF-CONTROL 5-YEAR-OLD. SO HE'S IN THE CAR AND HE'S
KICKING THE DASHBOARD. AND HE'S KICKING ME, AND HE'S
KICKING THE STEERING WHEEL AND HE'S KICKING THE GEAR
SHIFTER. AND SCREAMING THE WHOLE TIME
>> Reporter: AND YOU'RE TRYIN' TO DRIVE
>> AND I'M JUST TRYING TO DRIVE TO GET HOME.
SO BY THE TIME WE GOT HOME, HE WAS IN SUCH A CRAZY RAGE AS SOON
AS I PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK, HE LITERALLY GRABBED ME BY MY HAIR
AND DRAGGED ME OUT OF THE TRUCK. BOOM TACKLES ME.
I'M ON THE GROUND. HE ACTUALLY TOOK MY HEAD AND
SMASHED IT INTO THE FLOOR. AND THEN, LIKE, TURNED ME OVER
AND -- STARTED CHOKING ME OUT. >> Reporter: DID YOU THINK YOUR
LIFE WAS IN DANGER >> YES
THAT'S I THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA KILL ME.
THE LOOK ON HIS FACE, LIKE -- IT WAS -- I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN IT
IT WAS LIKE NOBODY WAS HOME. IT WAS LIKE THE DEVIL BEHIND
THOSE EYES THAT -- THAT'S WHAT SCARED ME
THE MOST SO I WAS LIKE, "OKAY, THIS IS
IT." >> Reporter: SHE SAYS HE FINALLY
STOPPED AFTER CRACKING HER TOOTH AND CHOKING HER TO THE POINT
THAT SHE PASSED OUT. WHEN SHE CAME TO, SHE CALLED
9-1-1. DID THEY ARREST HIM AND TAKE HIM
AWAY >> THEY DID.
>> Reporter: TO JAIL >> UH-HUH.
>> Reporter: IN 2011, RYAN PLEADED GUILTY TO ASSAULT AND
WAS SENTENCED TO 60 DAYS IN JAIL, HE SERVED 21
CORIE LATER FILED FOR DIVORCE AND SAYS SHE FEARED HIM EVERYDAY
UNTIL IT WAS FINAL >> EVERY NIGHT I SLEPT WITH A
SHOTGUN. IT WAS CRAZY
>> Reporter: AFTER THAT, SHE THOUGHT SHE'D PUT RYAN BANE IN
HER REARVIEW MIRROR. UNTIL --
HIS NAME POPS UP INTERNATIONAL MEDIA, "WOMAN GOES
MISSING. >> I INSTANTLY FEEL TERRIBLE FOR
THAT GIRL'S FAMILY BECAUSE THAT POOR GIRL HAD NO IDEA WHO HE
REALLY IS. >> Reporter: CORIE HAS NO PROOF,
BUT SHE'S CONVINCED RYAN HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH SARM'S
DISAPPEARANCE. >> I THINK HE DID SOMETHING TO
HER, IN MY OPINION >> Reporter: THIS IS BASED ON
YOUR PERSONAL -- >> BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE WITH
HIM. UH-HUH
>> Reporter: YOU'VE SEEN HIM SNAP -
>> I'VE SEEN - >> Reporter: -- BEFORE
>> -- IT I'VE SEEN THE RAGE
IT'S -- HE CAN BE COMPLETELY ENRAGED ONE SECOND, I MEAN
COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL, AND TWO SECONDS LATER, HE CAN HAVE A
SMILE ON HIS FACE, "HEY, EVERYBODY.
IT'S SO QUICK AND SO VIOLENT AND SO CRAZY, I COULDN'T IMAGINE
BEING IN THAT SMALL SPACE WITH HIM.
>> Reporter: THERE ARE ALWAYS TWO SIDES TO A STORY, WE HEARD
CORIE'S AND NOW WE NEEDED TO HEAR RYAN'S, SO WE HOPPED ON A
BOAT AND WENT LOOKING FOR HIM. RYAN DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SARM >>> COMING UP:
THE BOAT: WHAT SECRETS MIGHT IT HOLD
>> THERE MAY BE EVIDENCE THAT'S FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS.
>> AND RYAN BANE, SURFACES AT LAST
>> Reporter: WE JUST WANT TO ASK YOU, DO YOU KNOW WHERE SARM IS
>> Reporter: SARM HESLOP HAS BEEN MISSING FOR A YEAR NOW.
HER LAST REPORTED WHEREABOUTS, THE LUXURY CATAMARAN "SIREN
SONG." A NAME FROM GREEK MYTHOLOGY THAT
DESCRIBES SOMETHING APPEALING AND ALLURING ON THE SURFACE, BUT
UNDERNEATH, DECEPTIVE AND DANGEROUS.
THIS BOAT COULD BE THE KEY TO THIS MYSTERY
>> MR. BANE IS THE KEY TO THIS MYSTERY.
>> Reporter: WOULD YOU CALL RYAN BANE A SUSPECT IN SARM'S
DISAPPEARANCE? >> HE'S ABSOLUTELY A PERSON OF
INTEREST >> Reporter: IS THIS A CLASSIC
CASE OF NO BODY, NO CRIME? >> YEAH, I THINK WITHOUT A BODY,
IT CERTAINLY MAKES PROVING A CRIME MORE DIFFICULT
>> Reporter: REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENED TO SARM, LOCAL DEFENSE
ATTORNEY SCOT McCHAIN BELIEVES SINCE RYAN'S NOT TALKING, THIS
WILL BE A TOUGH CASE FOR POLICE TO SOLVE
>> BECAUSE THERE'S NO OTHER WITNESSES EVEN CLOSE WHO COULD
PROVIDE MEANINGFUL INFORMATION >> Reporter: BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE.
HE THINKS A FULL SEARCH OF RYAN'S BOAT IS A GOOD PLACE TO
START. MONTHS HAVE GONE BY NOW, THOUGH.
I MEAN, IT WOULDN'T -- IF THERE WAS ANY EVIDENCE, WOULDN'T IT BE
GONE BY NOW? >> EVEN OVER TIME, THERE'S
THINGS THAT ARE MISSED THERE MAY BE EVIDENCE THAT STUCK
IN CRACKS. THERE MAY BE EVIDENCE THAT'S,
YOU KNOW, FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS
AND IF YOU TEAR APART THAT BOAT, THERE MAY STILL BE SOMETHING
THERE. >> Reporter: HE ALSO BELIEVES
THERE'S A WAY FOR POLICE TO GET A WARRANT.
RYAN BANE HAS A HISTORY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
COULD THEY USE THAT TO TRY TO GET A WARRANT?
>> ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY
BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT IN THE PAST HE'S HAD A PREDILECTION TO
ENGAGE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. AND YOU COUPLE THAT WITH A
MISSING BODY AND THEN I THINK YOU HAVE WHAT I
WOULD CONSIDER PROBABLE CAUSE. >> Reporter: WHEN WE ASKED BOTH
THE U.S. ATTORNEY AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE U.S.
VIRGIN ISLANDS ABOUT THIS, THEY SAID THEY DO NOT COMMENT ON
ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS WE WERE HOPING RYAN BANE MIGHT
TALK TO US, SO WE TRAVELED TO FRANK BAY, OFF THE ISLAND OF
SAINT JOHN WHERE WE HEARD HE WAS STILL ANCHORED
IT WAS THREE WEEKS AFTER SARM WENT MISSING, BUT WE'D JUST
MISSED HIM RYAN WAS OUT IN THE OPEN ON HIS
BOAT FOR -- FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND THEN FINALLY SLIPPED AWAY.
>> IF HE'S NOT UNDER ARREST AND THE BOAT HASN'T BEEN IMPOUNDED,
I ASSUME HE'S GOT EVERY RIGHT TO BE
>> Reporter: THEN WE GOT A TIP ABOUT WHERE RYAN MIGHT'VE GONE,
SO WE CHARTERED A BOAT AND SEARCHED, AND SEARCHED
WE'VE BEEN DRIVING AROUND THE ISLANDS ALL DAY TRYING TO FIND
RYAN BANE. WE FINALLY LOCATED HIS BOAT HERE NEXT TO
HASSEL ISLAND. WHEN WE PULLED UP, HE
IMMEDIATELY WENT INSIDE. DESPITE REPEATED ATTEMPTS ASKING
HIM TO SPEAK WITH US - RYAN, IT'S ANDREA CANNING FROM
"DATELINE. COULD WE TALK TO YOU
HE WOULDN'T COME OUT SO A FEW HOURS LATER, WE TRIED
AGAIN. AND THIS TIME --
>> Reporter: RYAN! CAN WE TALK TO YOU
WE JUST WANT TO ASK YOU, DO YOU KNOW WHERE SARM IS
DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE DISAPPEARANCE, RYAN?
>> YOU'RE GONNA HURT MY DOG. >> Reporter: HOW ARE WE GONNA
HURT YOUR DOG? >> HE'S GONNA JUMP IN AFTER YOU
>> Reporter: OH, I'M SORRY HE WOULDN'T SPEAK TO ME, HE
JUST -- KEPT TALKING ABOUT THE DOG WHICH, BY THE WAY, THE DOG
IS - >> GRACE'S DOG
[ LAUGHTER ] >> Reporter: YOUR DAUGHTER'S
DOG? >> YES
>> Reporter: SO HE TOOK THE DOG? >> HE DID.
YEP. THAT WAS ONE OF THE MANY TIMES I
CALLED THE POLICE ON HIM DURING OUR DIVORCE.
ONE OF THE OFFICERS OPENED THE DOOR AND THE DOG WENT RUNNING
OUT. AND HE PUT THE DOG IN HIS CAR,
AND I HAD A CRYING 13-YEAR-OLD FOR MONTHS
>> Reporter: SHE BROUGHT IT UP WITH THE JUDGE, BUT SHE SAYS THE
JUDGE DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE, AND INSTEAD AWARDED THE DOG TO RYAN.
HE KEPT SAYING THAT THE DOG, YOU KNOW, WON'T BE ABLE TO SWIM.
>> HE'S A LAB. HE SWIMS ALL THE TIME.
>> Reporter: DO YOU THINK THAT THIS WAS ANOTHER FORM OF SORT OF
MANIPULATION - >> YES
>> Reporter: -- BY RYAN -- >> 100%.
>> Reporter: -- TRYING TO DEFLECT OFF MY QUESTION?
>> ABSOLUTELY, YUP >> Reporter: CORIE BELIEVES SHE
DODGED A BULLET WITH RYAN, AND AFTER YEARS OF THERAPY HAS FOUND
HER HAPPY ENDING, ENGAGED TO THE MAN OF HER DREAMS.
>> Reporter: WHAT IS IT LIKE NOW TO BE IN A TRULY HEALTHY
RELATIONSHIP >> IT'S INCREDIBLE
>> Reporter: SHE FEARS SARM WILL NEVER HAVE THAT CHANCE
>> I FEEL BAD FOR HER FAMILY I FEEL BAD THAT SHE'S MISSING.
YOU KNOW, AND IF, GOD FORBID, HE DID SOMETHING TO HER, I WANT
THERE TO BE JUSTICE FOR HER. >> Reporter: THE POLICE SAY
THEY'RE NOT GIVING UP. ALTHOUGH ONE POTENTIAL LEAD
COULD BE SLIPPING AWAY SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, BANE PUT HIS
CATAMARAN UP FOR SALE. SARM'S FRIENDS, WHO'VE BEEN
TRACKING THE BOAT, SAY HE CHANGED THE NAME, AND HAS SINCE
TAKEN IT OFF THE MARKET. THEY DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS SOLD
AFTER THAT DO YOU THINK THIS CASE WILL EVER
BE SOLVED? >> I HAVE OPTIMISM THAT WE'LL
GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION.
SOMEONE SAW OR HEARD SOMETHING THAT CAN SAY, "THIS IS A PIECE
THAT YOU'RE MISSING," OR THAT MR. BANE WILL HAVE THE
CONSCIOUSNESS TO SAY, "LET ME DO THE RIGHT THING.
LET ME EXPLAIN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT WHAT TOOK PLACE.
>> Reporter: BANE'S LAWYER INSISTS HIS CLIENT HAD NOTHING
TO DO WITH SARM'S DISAPPEARANCE, AND TOLD "DATELINE" HE HAS
"ADVISED LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT IF MR. BANE'S PRESENCE IS
LEGALLY REQUIRED IN THE TERRITORY, HE WILL APPEAR
VOLUNTARILY. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO ANYONE WHO
SAYS YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ISN'T DOING ENOUGH
>> WE HAVE LOOKED HIGH AND LOW WE'VE CONDUCTED AS OVERARCHING
AN INVESTIGATION AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN FOR SOMEONE WHO WAS REPORTED
MISSING. >> Reporter: AND AS FOR SARM'S
TIGHT KNIT CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, THEY HAVE VOWED TO KEEP THE
PRESSURE ON AND PUSH INVESTIGATORS TO FIND SARM, A
WOMAN WHO CAME TO PARADISE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURE AND LOVE
NOW HER FRIENDS JUST WANT TO REFLECT ON THE PERSON WHO MEANT
THE WORLD TO THEM. >> I WANT HER TO BE REMEMBERED
AS THIS -- AS THE REALLY POSITIVE PERSON THAT SHE IS.
SHE'S GOT A REAL LUST FOR LIFE SHE IS AN HONEST AND TRUTHFUL
PERSON SHE'S SOMEONE THAT YOU WANT ON
YOUR TEAM. >> UH-HUH.
>> SHE'S FUN TO BE AROUND. SHE'S ADVENTUROUS, SHE'S HAPPY
AND THAT KIND OF OOZES OUT OF HER, AND YOU GET REALLY CAUGHT
UP IN -- IN THE SARM MOMENT. >> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE." WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY
AT 9:00/8:00 CENTRAL, AND OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH
WEEKNIGHT FOR NBC NIGHTLY NEWS I'M LESTER HOLT.
FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, GOODNIGHT.