Romantic Getaway Turns Into a Nightmare Disappearance
For most couples, a Caribbean anniversary getaway sounds like a dream. For Brian Tarrence and his wife, Maria, it became a waking nightmare. Tarrence, a 51-year-old vice president at a Manhattan software firm, had traveled with his wife to Turks and Caicos for their first wedding anniversary. They checked into the Paradise Inn in Grace Bay on June 21. Just four days later, he was gone.
A Vacation That Took a Strange Turn
According to private investigator Carl DeFazio, who was hired by the family, the couple had enjoyed a typical island itinerary the day before the disappearance — a boat trip, dinner, and no signs of distress.
But around 3:30 a.m. on June 25, security footage captured Tarrence leaving their Airbnb alone. He had his phone, wallet, and was dressed in casual vacation wear of a T-shirt, shorts, and sneakers.
He never came back.
A Safe Area — and a Sudden Mystery
The area where Tarrence vanished, near Grace Bay, is generally regarded as safe and frequented by tourists. Yet his disappearance occurred during a quiet early morning hour while his wife was still asleep. DeFazio, a former NYPD officer and longtime private investigator, described the behavior as "a little bizarre in itself" and confirmed there was no initial evidence of a struggle or foul play, according to the New York Post.
Theories ranged from voluntary disappearance to accidental injury to something more sinister. DeFazio noted that Tarrence had been acting strangely the day before — not under medical care or medication, but seemingly not himself, according to his wife.
Still, there were no calls made from his phone after he left. No activity on his bank cards. And no confirmed sightings.
A Body Found — but No Confirmation
On July 5, search crews made a grim discovery — a body, decomposed and unrecognizable, was found in a ditch about a 20-minute walk from the Paradise Inn.
DeFazio said the corpse was found in dense brush, in a shallow 5-foot ditch off Leeward Highway — not far from where surveillance cameras last saw Tarrence. Due to the level of decomposition — the body had been exposed to 90-degree heat for 10 days — authorities have not confirmed whether the remains are those of Tarrence. DeFazio stressed that investigators are being cautious. "You can't just look at, say, a watch, sneakers and a pair of shorts. Anybody could be wearing that," he told PEOPLE.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is treating the discovery as part of an open death investigation. They have not officially tied the remains to the missing New Yorker.
The Ongoing Search for Answers
Back in New York, Tarrence's colleagues at Diligent Software released a statement expressing concern and support for his family. The company has been cooperating with the investigation and assisting with private search efforts on the island.
Meanwhile, his wife has remained in Turks and Caicos to assist with the search and await identification results. The family continues to ask the public for any tips, and police are urging anyone with information to contact 911 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477.
For now, the fate of Brian Tarrence remains uncertain.
References: New Yorker Brian Tarrence vanishes while on romantic vacation in Turks and Caicos with his wife: 'He basically disappears' | Body Was Found 20 Minutes from Where Brian Tarrence Vanished on Anniversary Trip, Says Private Investigator | Body found in Turks and Caicos amid search for missing New York City man
