Help Bring The Watson Family Home: Detained Abroad

5/2 Updates:

Bryan Hagerich -has been unjustly detained in Turks for 81 days now. He goes to trail tomorrow. Prayers are definitely needed. His sentencing could be tomorrow or most likely a week later.

Ryan Watson- has been unjustly detained in Turks for 22 days now. He is missing his family severely and the torture of waiting for sentencing has been unbearable at times. Please pray for my brother during this difficult time. His sufficiency hearing is June 7th.

Tyler Wenrich- has been unjustly detained in Turks for 14 days now. Tyler was granted bail yesterday after 13 days in prison and his family is working on posting bail. His sufficiency hearing is June 7th.

4/25 Update: DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT! We have a donor that will match dollar to dollar, your donation to Help Bring The Watson Home fundraiser. This amazing person will matched up to $50,000. Spread the word.

4/24 Update: Ryan spent the last two nights in jail. Today they had a bail hearing and fortunately he was able to make bail. He is mandated to the island while waiting for his next court appearance scheduled June 7th.

4/23 Update: Valerie has been released of charges and is returning to Oklahoma today. Ryan remains in jail, with no current timetable for any possibility of bail or trial date. While we appreciate your support and willingness to help, please do not reach out directly to any of the TCI government officials during this time.

Story:

We are reaching out to you in a time of desperate need. The Watson family, loving parents of two young children, find themselves in a nightmare scenario—they are detained in a foreign country with no resolution in sight.

The Watsons were in Turks and Caicos with multiple couples celebrating several of their friend’s 40th birthdays. They had their lives turned upside down when they tried to return home, as local airport security found four rounds of ammunition unknowingly left in a duffel bag from a deer hunting trip. It was not noticed by TSA when leaving America. Now, they are facing a legal system that is unfamiliar, daunting, and expensive that operates differently than the American Justice System.

Isolated from their family, friends, and children, they face mounting legal fees, living expenses, and the overwhelming stress of their situation. The emotional and financial toll is immense, and they are at risk of losing everything.

Currently the minimum custodial sentence in Turks and Caicos is 12 years for having firearms or ammunition in the country. The possibility of any amount of time behind bars is an excessively harsh sentence in this horrible situation.

As their community, we are rallying to support them, but we cannot do it alone. We urgently need your help to cover the escalating legal costs and ensure the Watsons have the basic necessities during this challenging time. Your donation, no matter the size, will contribute directly towards reuniting the Watson family and bringing them safely back home.

Please show your support for the Watson family. Your generosity can light the way for their return, providing hope and relief in their moment of greatest need. Let’s stand together to bring them home—every act of kindness brings them one step closer.