Authorities in Turks and Caicos have discovered a body during the ongoing search for Brian Tarrence, a 51-year-old man from New York City who went missing last month while vacationing with his wife.
According to a statement from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF), officers located the remains of a deceased male in an advanced state of decomposition near Grace Bay on the morning of Saturday, July 5, around 9:06 a.m.
The body has not yet been formally identified. Police say they will release more details once the identification process is complete and Tarrence’s next of kin have been notified.
“We urge the public to avoid speculation and allow the investigation to proceed through official channels,” said Acting Commissioner of Police Rodney Adams, who also offered condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
Tarrence was last seen on June 25, captured on surveillance footage leaving his rental unit at the Paradise Inn in Grace Bay around 3:30 a.m. local time. He appeared to be walking toward the downtown area, with his phone and wallet in hand. He had arrived on the island with his wife, Maria Tarrence, on June 22 and was scheduled to return home on June 29.
‘Everything Seemed Normal’
Private investigator Carl DeFazio, who is assisting the family, told PEOPLE the couple’s trip had started “like normal,” noting they were staying just 150 feet from the local police station.
“Everything prior to the point where he walked out of that house, he seems fine,” DeFazio said. “They had a boat trip and went to dinner — just like any other couple on vacation.”
No activity has been recorded on Tarrence’s phone or credit cards since his disappearance. His wallet has not been recovered.
DeFazio acknowledged that Tarrence leaving the hotel alone at night was unusual:
“That’s a little bizarre in itself… His wife was asleep. He was in the middle of town.”
