Orlando mother waits to leave Turks and Caicos after being arrested for carrying ammunition in carry-on baggage – WFTV

“I want people to understand: You must not think that what happened to me could not happen to you or a loved one, because it can,” Grier said.

Grier has since been released but is not yet able to leave the island. She has been staying in an Airbnb since then but says she is ready to return home to her family, especially her grandchildren, who are not yet old enough to understand what happened.

Read: Orlando woman arrested on ammunition charges in Turks and Caicos speaks to WFTV

“I have to tell my grandkids, ‘When are we going to see your new house?’ They think this is my new house and I’m just not going to let them come here, but we know that’s not true,” Grier said.

On Tuesday, Grier said she would appear before a judge in the Turks and Caicos Islands to learn her next steps.

“At this time, on the 25th, I am told when my sentence will be announced. You don’t find out until the actual day. When the judge spoke, she said $500 per bullet.

Read: Second American convicted of smuggling ammunition to Turks and Caicos Islands begins serving prison sentence

In Grier’s case, it’s two bullets and the theory of paying $1,000 to get home to Orlando.

According to the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas, firearms, ammunition, and other weapons are not permitted in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). TCI authorities strictly enforce all laws related to firearms. The penalty for traveling to the TCI with a firearm, ammunition, or other weapon is a minimum term of imprisonment of twelve (12) years.

“Despite all of that, I still told God, ‘I trust Him.’ Even in the midst of everything that was happening, when I was tied to the chair, I still told God, ‘I trust Him,'” Grier said.

Read: American arrested for carrying ammunition in Turks and Caicos Islands gets suspended sentence

Grier said she was one of five and the last American woman left on the island after being arrested for possession of small amounts of ammunition.

On Friday, Ryan Watson was granted permission to return to Oklahoma following his arrest.

Grier said she and Watson have grown closer and she is glad he is back home with his family. She has no doubt she will be back on the plane.

“Ryan and I are like sisters and brothers. We have a close bond. Him, me, his mom, his stepdad. We lived in the same Airbnb,” Grier said.

Grier said that besides hugging her family and grandchildren, she can’t wait to eat a plate of soul food.

WFTV is staying in touch with Grier and expects to meet her as soon as she lands at Orlando International Airport.

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