Oklahoma man detained on Caribbean island for carrying ammo, family struggles to cope

A woman from Fort Worth, along with her two children now residing in Oklahoma, is facing a new reality after her husband was detained in Turks and Caicos when ammunition was discovered in his carry-on bag.

Ryan and Valerie Watson traveled to the Turks and Caicos Islands on April 7 to celebrate their friend’s 40th birthday along with two others. However, upon returning from their vacation, they encountered an unexpected incident.

During security screening for their flight, their carry-on bag was flagged, leading to a search where officials found a Ziploc bag containing approximately four bullets.

Valerie explained that the bullets were inadvertently left in the bag after her husband had gone hunting the previous weekend.

Both Ryan and Valerie were questioned and charged with possession of ammunition. While Valerie was released, her charges were eventually dropped after spending several days detained on the island.

In an emotional interview with NBC 5’s Meredith Land, Valerie shared how her children, aged seven and nine, are struggling to cope with their father’s absence.

“This is our reality now, so I’ve tried to be honest in the best way as a mom to young kids to explain what is happening,” said Valerie. “Watching them try to handle their big emotions has been difficult.”

Carrying ammunition in Turks and Caicos is a serious offense with a mandatory minimum sentence of 12 years in prison. Valerie recalled the moment when the discovery was made at the airport, expressing her immediate sense of dread and uncertainty about the foreign country’s laws.

Despite the challenging situation, Valerie expressed faith in God’s plan and shared that two U.S. senators from Oklahoma, along with the governor, are writing “good character” letters on her husband’s behalf. However, the family is still waiting for a resolution to the situation.