The decomposed body found in Turks and Caicos on July 5 has been positively identified as Brian Patrick Tarrence, a 52-year-old Manhattan resident who disappeared while vacationing with his wife on the Caribbean island. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force announced the confirmation on Wednesday, July 16, following a forensic dental analysis conducted by a qualified specialist.
An autopsy conducted on July 11 revealed no signs of trauma on Tarrence’s body, and police do not suspect foul play in his death. Final autopsy and toxicology reports are still pending to complete the investigation.
Tarrence vanished on June 25 during what was supposed to be a seven-day anniversary celebration with his wife Maria at the Paradise Inn near Grace Bay Beach. Security cameras captured him leaving his condo around 3:40 a.m. that morning, walking alone toward town. His wife had gone to bed early and discovered him missing when she woke up in the morning.
The couple had arrived in Turks and Caicos on June 22 and were scheduled to return to New York on June 29. Tarrence, a software firm vice president, had moved to Manhattan from upstate Monroe, New York the previous year to be closer to his stepson, who attends college in the city.
Police discovered Tarrence’s body in a roughly five-foot-deep ditch on the side of the road in the Grace Bay area during a coordinated search operation. The remains were found in a decomposed state approximately a 20-minute walk from where he was last seen, according to private investigator Carl DeFazio. The body was located about a block off Leeward Highway in a residential commercial area.
Tarrence’s family hired DeFazio, a former Marine and NYPD detective, to assist with the search efforts. DeFazio worked closely with local authorities and indicated that on the day before Tarrence disappeared, the couple had gone on a boat trip and his wife noticed her husband seemed different. The investigator noted that Tarrence was experiencing mental issues on the day he disappeared, appearing incoherent and not acting like himself, though he was not under medical care or taking medication that the family was aware of.
When Tarrence left his hotel room in the early morning hours of June 25, he had his phone and wallet with him. However, no charges have been made to his credit cards since his disappearance, and no calls have been made from his phone. DeFazio described Tarrence’s decision to leave the hotel at such an early hour as unusual, particularly since his wife was sleeping and they were in the middle of town.
The extensive search efforts included ground searches, drone surveillance, review of CCTV footage, and assistance from local residents and volunteers. The Ministry of Tourism and Experience Turks and Caicos coordinated with police throughout the search operation.
Tourism Minister Zhavargo Jolly extended condolences to Tarrence’s family and expressed gratitude to all individuals, volunteers, and organizations who participated in the search efforts. The minister emphasized that the entire Turks and Caicos community mourns this loss alongside the Tarrence family.
The case drew significant attention as Tarrence had North Texas family connections, with siblings living in the Dallas area. His brother from Plano traveled to Turks and Caicos to assist with the search efforts and worked alongside the United States Embassy to find answers.
Throughout the investigation, police emphasized there was no evidence of suspicious circumstances surrounding Tarrence’s disappearance or death. The identification process was challenging due to the advanced state of decomposition caused by the body remaining undiscovered for 10 days in temperatures exceeding 90 degrees.
Authorities are asking anyone with information relating to Tarrence’s case to contact 911 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force extended condolences to Tarrence’s family and friends while thanking the public for their patience and support during the investigation.
