Kelsey Karnstein and Devan Markham
6 hours ago
OKLAHOMA CITY (NewsNation) — A vacation to the Turks and Caicos Islands turned into a nightmare for an Oklahoma couple.
Ryan and Valerie Watson visited the island earlier this month for a birthday trip. However, just as he was about to return home, he was stopped by airport security. Confusion turned to fear as they were taken to the police station.
“Terrible mistake”
Airport authorities claimed they found ammunition in Ryan Watson’s carry-on bag. He called it a “grave mistake” and an accident, but the new law now means he faces up to a dozen years in prison.
Ryan Watson was granted bail on Wednesday, but is now forced to remain in the Turks and Caicos Islands, away from his wife and children.
There is no answer as to when he will be able to return home, with his next court date set for June 7, six weeks later.
Valerie Watson, who just returned to the United States, told NewsNation she can’t believe this is happening. She said her transition has been difficult, especially as her children wonder where her father is and when he will return. She said it was a very difficult process for her to work through as her children processed their own emotions.
“It’s really weird not having him in our house. He’s been busy. I actually haven’t spent much time with the kids yet. This is our new reality, and it’s pretty awful.” Valerie Watson said.
Valerie Watson was allowed to fly home on Tuesday and was greeted by family, friends and children. She said she was horrified that her husband was facing 12 years in prison for what was allegedly an honest mistake on her part. She further explained that her ammunition was not even intercepted by the Transportation Security Administration before leaving the United States.
Ryan Watson is an avid hunter who left a bullet in his bag during a hunting trip to Texas earlier this year.
Laws in Turks and Caicos Islands are different from those in the United States
In the United States, if airport security finds a bullet, it usually results in a fine. However, in the Turks and Caicos Islands, lawmakers passed the bill Anyone caught bringing firearms or ammunition onto the island will face a minimum prison sentence of 12 years.
The U.S. government issued a warning Wednesday to tourists heading to the island.
“Before departing the United States, please carefully check your luggage for any ammunition or weapons left behind. If you bring firearms or ammunition into TCI, even inadvertently, we cannot guarantee your release from custody. We cannot,” the U.S. Embassy in Nassau warned.
Friends of the Watson family told NewsNation that they are pleased that Valerie and Ryan Watson are both moving forward at an accelerated pace in their cases, and that other Americans charged with similar crimes and still awaiting justice are He said he pointed out that there were others.
A GoFundMe page has also been set up to help the family with expenses, and more than $130,000 has been raised so far.
Other Americans indicted
Ryan Watson is not the only American facing gun charges in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Brian and Ashley Hagerich were vacationing there with their children when hunting ammunition was also found in their luggage in February. Brian Hagerich was taken into custody by authorities and spent eight days in jail before being released on bail.
More than 70 days after his arrest, Brian Hagerich remains on the island. So far, he has missed several life events in the United States, including his children’s birthdays.
“I don’t think any of us could have imagined the magnitude of this for our family. The last 70-plus days have been nothing short of a struggle,” Brian Hegerich said.
“It was a very, very simple, honest mistake,” he said.
Ashley Hagerich told NewsNation it’s been difficult to stay home while her husband is stranded in the Turks and Caicos Islands. She even took a step back from her job to take care of her children and balance her schedule.
“Never in a million years could I have imagined that such an honest mistake would lead to the absolute torture that our family is currently experiencing,” she said.