American father who spent two months in Turks and Caicos for ammo in his luggage describes horror of prison after returning home in miracle decision by court

Bryan Hagerich, an American who has been released after illegally bringing ammo into Turks and Caicos, has described how the ordeal was the ‘darkest days of my life.’

The 39-year-old had arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport Friday earlier in the day, hugging his kids and wife in an emotional reunion. It was the first time he’d seen them since his overseas arrest in February, for stray bullets found in a suitcase. 

The father of two from Pennsylvania was spared a lengthy prison sentence after paying a fine and pleading guilty, as four other Americans remained detained and charged on the same charges. 

Hagerich, a former professional ball player once drafted by the Marlins, is the first to be returned to the US.

He was released from custody on a 12-month suspended sentence, while the four others await sentencing. He called his experience in the Caribbean country the ‘hardest… of [his] life’, before shedding more light on his ordeal.

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The former Miami Marlins draftee called his experience at an unspecified  detention facility the ‘hardest… of [his] life’, expressing relief at being back home. The dad of two from Pennsylvania was caught with ammo in his baggage, but was spared a prison sentence after paying a fine

‘The weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders,’ Hagerich told reporters at the airport after reuniting with family.

‘I’m so thankful to be home here with my family and friends but we still have three other Americans in Turks and Caicos,’ Hagerich said, in reference to one of the offenders – able to return to the US due to medical reasons.

‘It was tough, the darkest days of my life,’ he continued of his arrest. ‘You think you’re on this beautiful island but there’s nothing beautiful about it when you don’t have your family.’

When asked if he would visit again, he joked, ‘I think we’ll be looking for somewhere else.’

Earlier in the day, a judge sentenced Hagerich to a suspended 52-week sentence with a fine of $6,700 for possessing guns and ammunition, under a strict statute aimed at addressing rising gang violence in the Caribbean nation.

He faced a minimum of 12 years – a fate that could still await the four others. 

Before that, he was briefly imprisoned before being allowed out on bail in Turks and Caicos – a more than two-month ordeal he called the  ‘hardest time of my life.’

‘As a father, as a provider, and to not be that figure in my family’s life, it’s a very tough pill to swallow,’ Hagerich said outside the airport.

He had faced a minimum of 12 years – a fate that could still await the four others. Before that, he was being kept at a facility in Turks and Caicos – a more than two-month ordeal he called the ‘darkest’ of his life

After agreeing to plead guilty, he received a suspended 52-week sentence and a $6,700 fine – allowing him to be reunited his children, Caroline, 6, and Palmer, 4, his wife, and Gisele Fetterman and husband John Fetterman, and fellow state rep Guy Reschenthaler

Video footage captured the heartwarming moment Hagerich, 39, arrived at the airport and immediately hugged his kids and wife, seeing them for the first time since his arrest

‘Its just amazing how, just in the matter of 12 hours, looking at 12 years to now. My biggest concern is coaching my kids’ baseball games tomorrow, and that is such a relief.’ 

He added how the conditions of his detention were ‘tough’,  calling them the ‘darkest days’ of his life.

Not offering more detail, he said he was thankful to be home, and stressed that other Americans are still stuck on the islands. However, remaining positive, he said they ‘will be home soon.’

The other detained Americans are Ryan Watson, 40, of Oklahoma; Sharitta Grier, 45, of Florida; Tyler Wenrich, 31, of Virginia; and Michael Lee Evans, 72, of Texas – all of whom have been arrested within the past few months.

Their arrests come as part of crack down on firearms and weapons within the country after implementing harsher gun laws in 2022, emphasized in September 203 with a national alert.

Wenrich, Watson, and Grier all remain trapped on the island, while Evans was bailed and allowed to fly back to the US as he has a serious medical condition. 

All were charged with possession of firearms for loose bullets allegedly found in their luggage, and all claim they didn’t know they were there.

Arguments in defense have ranged that they could have been left there after hunting trips or simply by mistake, with Hagerich the only one among them to plead guilty.

Hagerich – seen here Friday with his son – was the only to secure such a deal with a judge, after pleading guilty to possession of firearms

When asked why he owned up to his guilt, he told ABC News in an interview alongside his wife Ashley earlier this month. ‘I’m a man of integrity, character. I did not have intent in this’

After his sentencing Friday and time served, a Turks and Caicos Islands’ premier said that ‘justice has been served as the law intended.’ In response, Hagerich said at least officials have ‘set some precedent’ with his sentencing

 He thus was the only to secure such a deal with a judge, issued a suspended 52-month sentence Friday that was suspended for 12 months, essentially erasing the sentence.  

Upon paying his fine, he was given his passport and returned to the United States without issue – something he said ‘absolutely elated’ him.

When asked why he owned up to his guilt, he told ABC News in an interview alongside his wife Ashley earlier this month. ‘I’m a man of integrity, character,’ 

 ‘I did not have intent in this.’ 

After his sentencing Friday and time served, a Turks and Caicos Islands’ premier said that ‘justice has been served as the law intended.’

In response, Hagerich said at least officials have ‘set some precedent’ with his sentencing.