New York Man Mysteriously Disappears in Turks and Caicos During Romantic Vacation

Brian Tarrence, 51, vanished while on vacation in Turks and Caicos with his wife on June 25

A 51-year-old Manhattan man has mysteriously vanished while vacationing in Turks and Caicos with his wife, after leaving their Airbnb alone in the early hours of June 25 without explanation.

Brian Tarrence, who recently relocated from Monroe, New York, to Manhattan, arrived in Providenciales with his wife on June 22 for a week-long romantic getaway in Grace Bay. According to private investigator Carl DeFazio, hired by the family, Tarrence was captured on surveillance footage around 3:30 a.m. walking away from their rental and toward the tourist-heavy downtown area.

Tarrence was seen on security footage leaving his rental in Grace Bay, Providenciales, on June 25

DeFazio said that everything appeared normal leading up to the moment Tarrence walked out. “They had a boat trip and went to dinner, just like any other couple. There were no signs of anything unusual,” he said.

Tarrence’s wife had gone to bed earlier that night and discovered he was missing when she woke up. He was last seen wearing a T-shirt, shorts, and sneakers, and had his cellphone and wallet with him. There have been no further sightings or communication since.

Tarrence, who recently moved from Monroe, New York, to Manhattan, touched down in Turks and Caicos with his wife of one year on June 22 and planned to stay until June 29

“What’s bizarre is that he left without any apparent reason,” said DeFazio, a former NYPD officer and Marine with decades of investigative experience. “He just vanished. We have him on camera heading into town, and then nothing.”

Turks and Caicos police have officially listed Tarrence as a missing person and launched an active investigation. Authorities are using drones and combing through CCTV footage to retrace his steps, while also appealing to the public for information. The search is centered around Grace Bay, an area generally considered safe, though the mystery surrounding Tarrence’s disappearance remains unsolved.

Brian Tarrance with his wife

DeFazio emphasized that there is currently no evidence of foul play, but said all possibilities are being considered. “He’s a smart man. We don’t know if he left on his own or if something happened to him. We’re not ruling anything out,” he said.

Local businesses and tourists have rallied to support the search, with missing persons flyers now visible throughout the island. Tarrence’s wife has remained in Turks and Caicos to assist in the ongoing efforts.

Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

Turks and Caicos police are urging anyone with information to contact 911 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477.

The disappearance comes amid growing security concerns in the British Overseas Territory. In March, the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory urging Americans to exercise increased caution due to rising violent crime. Official statistics from InSight Crime show violent robberies in Turks and Caicos rose by 143% and gun-related crimes by 123% last year. In 2024, the territory recorded 48 murders, pushing its homicide rate to the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean.