An American tourist vanished under mysterious circumstances while he was on a holiday with his wife in the Turks and Caicos. Brian Tarrence, 51, was last seen leaving his Airbnb rental around 3:30 a.m. on June 25. He has not been seen or heard from since. Tarrence and his wife had arrived at the tropical destination on June 22 from Manhattan. They were scheduled to leave a week later on June 29, as reported by Fox News.
Private investigator Carl DeFazio, who is assisting in the case, confirmed that Tarrence had both his cellphone and wallet with him when he left the rental accommodation called Paradise Inn. But he went missing soon after. “That evening, his wife went to bed, and when she woke up, he was gone,” DeFazio said. Just a few hours before Brian went missing, he was on a boat trip with his wife to mark their first anniversary.
New Yorker Brian Tarrence vanishes while on romantic vacation in Turks and Caicos with his wife: ‘He basically disappears’ https://t.co/n9ymoycmAU pic.twitter.com/LVumrhTcJ0
— New York Post (@nypost) July 2, 2025
As per The Sun, Brian Tarrence’s brother, Mike, last spoke to his brother on June 20 and said Brian had never done anything like this before. “He has never done anything even remotely close to this,” Mike said.
Mike further said that the family found some details about him and said, “This is very personal, but come to find out through all of this, it was discovered he is a very bad alcoholic. We were also told that with either the drinking, lack of sleep, or both, he was experiencing hallucinations.”
As a part of the ongoing investigation, local police show Tarrence leaving the Airbnb on foot, and investigator Carl DeFazio described the case as “bizarre.” as he spoke to News12. “He’s in the middle of town. His wife was sleeping,” the detective noted.
Tarrence was last seen in the Grace Bay area of Providenciales, a region often frequented by tourists, especially during the holiday season. Brian was wearing a T-shirt, shorts, and sneakers as he headed out of the property.
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory, located in the Atlantic Ocean and considered a part of the Caribbean region. It consists of more than 40 islands and welcomes more than one million tourists annually. But also noted by the U.S. State Department for increased crime risk. The department has issued travel advisories urging Americans to use caution while visiting the islands.
These advisories include not walking alone at night, not answering doors for unknown people after the sun goes down. While the tourists should inform the cops in case of any trouble, visitors are also asked not to carry firearms or ammunition, as doing so could result in a mandatory 12-year prison sentence. As the search continues, officials are reminding travelers to secure travel insurance, remain informed through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Brian Tarrence’s family back in America seems to be super tensed as it’s been three days since his disappearance at the time of writing this news. They are also trying to trace him with the help of the U.S. Embassy in Nassau and the Red Cross.
US citizen missing in Turks and Caicos. Brian Tarrence, 51, is missing. Please help spread awareness. https://t.co/aabS5RQgQg
— SF INVESTIGATES • STEVE FISCHER (@SF_investigates) June 30, 2025
Meanwhile, Carl DeFazio, the former NYPD officer and Marine officer, urged people to stay positive. He said that although no leads have been found until now, his team isn’t giving up hope.
He also applauded the local tourists who offered to help him, including Brian Tarrence’s wife. While the search is in full fledge, both Brian’s family and the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have requested people to contact them at 911. This shocking incident is a developing story; stay tuned for further updates.
