Three men who had escaped from prison have been charged with capital murder in connection with the deaths of an American couple who disappeared in the Caribbean in February after their catamaran was hijacked.

The Royal Grenada Police Force announced Friday that Trevon Robertson, 23; Atiba Stanislaus, 25; and Ron Mitchell, 30, were re-arrested on two counts of capital murder in the slayings of Ralph Hendry and Kathleen Brandel.

Related: US yacht couple probably thrown into sea by fugitives, Grenada police say

Grenada police added that the trio have also been charged with escaping lawful custody, housebreaking, robbery and two counts of kidnapping. Additionally, Stanislaus was charged with one count of rape, police said.

The three men made their first court appearance Thursday and were remanded to Richmond Hill prison, also known as His Majesty’s prison. Their next court appearance has been scheduled for 27 March.

According to Grenada police commissioner Don McKenzie, the three men escaped from the South Saint George police station on 18 February and the following day hijacked the catamaran Simplicity, belonging to Hendry, 66, and Brandel, 71.

The men then made their way to St Vincent and the Grenadines, where they were arrested on 21 February, police said.

“Information suggests that while traveling between Grenada and St Vincent, they disposed of the occupants,” McKenzie said.

According to the non-profit Salty Dawg Sailing Association, Hendry and Brandel were “veteran cruisers and longtime members”. The organization added that the couple sailed Simplicity in the 2023 Caribbean Rally from Hampton, Virginia, to Antigua and had been spending the winter cruising the eastern Caribbean.

Describing their parents, Hendry’s son Bryan and Brandel’s son Nick Buro said: “Ralph and Kathy lived a life that most of us can only dream of, sailing the eastern coast of the United States, living on their home Simplicity, making friends with everyone they encountered, singing, dancing and laughing with friends and family – that’s who Ralph and Kathy were and that’s how they will be remembered in our hearts.”