Murder of 4 American Hostages Aboard ‘Quest’ by Somali Pirates Could Have been Averted

Last week it was reported that four Americans were murdered aboard the hijacked ’Quest” off the coast of Oman at the hands of Somali pirates. 

Now it is being reported  from the  UK Daily Mail that the murder of  four Americans, Jean and Scott Adam, from California, and Phyllis Macay and Robert Riggle, at the hands of Somali pirates could have been prevented. If this is the case, this hijacking and eventual murder of the four Americans is even more tragic than originally reported.

The killing of four American hostages on board their yacht may have been sparked by the U.S. Navy’s decision to detain two of the pirates who had come to negotiate with them, it emerged today.

Jean and Scott Adam, from California, and Phyllis Macay and Robert Riggle, from Seattle, were shot aboard the Quest off the coast of Oman, East Africa, on Tuesday.

A day earlier, two Somali pirates had boarded the U.S.S. Sterett stationed 600 yards away from the yacht to talk face-to-face, and American officials thought a breakthrough with the gang was imminent.

According to reports, the FBI negotiators did not take the leaders of Somali pirates that they were negotiating with seriously. The Somali leaders had left orders if they did not return, the hostages should be killed. Sadly, that is was happened.

A pirate source quoted by the newspaper said their leader had told them that if he did not return, they should kill the hostages. American officials say they do not know that to be the case.