In an upcoming one-hour special titled “Siren Song” on Dateline, viewers will be taken on a journey to the U.S. Virgin Islands for a captivating mystery. Scheduled to air on Saturday, December 2, at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT, this story revolves around the inexplicable disappearance of a British woman from her boyfriend’s luxurious yacht, casting a dark shadow over what should have been an idyllic vacation.
Andrea Canning leads the investigation into the perplexing case of Sarm Heslop’s vanishing act. Against the backdrop of the U.S. Virgin Islands, a popular tourist destination with its fair share of luxury yachts, the stage was set for a perfect getaway. One such vessel was the 47-foot catamaran named “Siren Song,” captained by a man named Ryan, with his girlfriend and first mate, Sarm Heslop, on board. They appeared to be living the dream, anchored off the shores of St. John.
However, one warm March evening, their tranquil night took a nightmarish turn. After leaving their yacht to dine ashore, spending an hour and a half at a local bar, Ryan and Sarm returned to “Siren Song” only for Ryan to wake up in the middle of the night to a blaring alarm, with Sarm mysteriously missing.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 2, at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT, and tune in to “Siren Song” with Andrea Canning.
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Sarm Heslop: The Full Story
Sarm Heslop, a 41-year-old British woman, mysteriously vanished in March 2021 while staying on the Siren Song, a catamaran anchored off the western coast of Saint John in the United States Virgin Islands. She had been working as a chef in the luxury yacht industry alongside her boyfriend, Ryan Bane, on the Siren Song, which was available for private charters. Prior to her yachting career, she had worked as a flight attendant for FlyBe and met her boyfriend through the dating app Tinder in 2020.
On March 7, 2021, Heslop and her boyfriend went to a restaurant on Saint John for dinner. Earlier in the day, another couple on a nearby boat observed them, and everything appeared to be calm. They were expected to return to the Siren Song by 10:00 PM due to a COVID-19 curfew on the island.
The catamaran was anchored about 200 feet from the shore, requiring them to use a dinghy for transportation. Heslop was last seen by her boyfriend, who claimed she was asleep at 10:00 PM on March 7 but had disappeared by 2:30 AM on March 8, 2021. However, he did not report her missing to the coastguard until 11:45 AM, a nine-hour delay that raised questions.
Despite allowing the police onto the boat, it was reported that the vessel was never searched, and the owner was not questioned about Heslop’s disappearance. The boyfriend’s attorney advised against permitting authorities to search the boat. The boyfriend received civil citations, including lacking registration documentation and safety equipment violations, but no criminal charges were filed.
Heslop’s phone, wallet, and passport were found on the catamaran and handed over to the police. Law enforcement conducted searches along the coastline using drones, divers, and sniffer dogs, but no evidence of her whereabouts was discovered.
Nine days after her disappearance, a local dog walker reported hearing a scream from the direction where the catamaran was anchored, around the time Heslop was said to have gone missing. Two weeks later, the FBI joined the investigation.
Heslop’s family and friends were perplexed by her disappearance, as she was described as a composed individual and a strong swimmer who would not likely have gone for a swim in the early hours of the morning. They also expressed frustration with the Virgin Islands Police Departme