Georgia teen, 18, who spent 32 days in Cayman Islands jail for breaking quarantine to see her boyfriend compete in a jet ski contest is 'happy to be home' as family meet her at the airport
The Georgia teen who was jailed for 32 days on the Cayman Islands for breaking a mandatory COVID-19 quarantine has been released and shared an emotional hug with her family after landing back in the United States.
Skylar Mack, 18, of Loganville, beamed with happiness and embraced her mother after landing at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta on Friday.
When asked how she felt she said, 'Very excited. Happy to be home!'
Mack had traveled to the Cayman Islands on November 27 and was required by the government to quarantine for 14 days.
But her dream vacation turned into a nightmare when she broke quarantine to attend her boyfriend's jet ski competition and ended up behind bars for violating the island's strict coronavirus guidelines.
Mack is not allowed back on the island as long as the borders remain closed under COVID-19 restrictions.
Georgia teen Skylar Mack, 18, who was jailed for 32 days on the Cayman Islands for breaking mandatory COVID-19 quarantine, returned back to the US on Friday
When asked how she felt she said, 'Very excited. Happy to be home!' with a smile as she embraced her family who greeted her at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta
Mack had traveled to the Cayman Islands on November 27 and was required by the government to quarantine for 14 days. But her dream vacation turned into a nightmare when she broke quarantine to attend her boyfriend Vanjae Ramgeet's jet ski competition and ended up behind bars for violating the island's strict coronavirus guidelines
American teen Skylar Mack has returned home after serving 32 days in a Cayman Islands prison for violating its mandatory COVID-19 quarantine regulations. @janai reports. https://t.co/i9rZzYvW4s pic.twitter.com/BANSGK4Gz8
— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 18, 2021
American teen Skylar Mack has returned home after serving 32 days in a Cayman Islands prison for violating its mandatory COVID-19 quarantine regulations. @janai reports. https://t.co/i9rZzYvW4s pic.twitter.com/BANSGK4Gz8
Now the family is at ease knowing Mack is home safe and sound.
'It’s the biggest relief. I’ve finally slept through the night. It’s kinda hard to fall asleep when someone you love so much, you know that they’re not sleeping. And that they’re uncomfortable. She’s a tough girl but she had to be scared,' her grandmother Jeanne Mack said to Good Morning America Monday.
Mack was supposed to undergo a two-week quarantine as mandated by the government, which electronically tracks anyone who arrives in the British Caribbean territory.
After two days in quarantine Mack allegedly removed her wrist monitor to see her boyfriend 24-year-old Vanjae Ramgeet compete in a jet ski competition.
Both Mack, who is enrolled as a pre-med student at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, and her boyfriend were detained and initially ordered to pay a fine and serve 40 hours of community service.
'It’s the biggest relief. I’ve finally slept through the night. It’s kinda hard to fall asleep when someone you love so much, you know that they’re not sleeping. And that they’re uncomfortable. She’s a tough girl but she had to be scared,' her grandmother Jeanne Mack said to Good Morning America Monday
Both Mack, who is enrolled as a pre-med student at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, and her boyfriend were detained and initially ordered to pay a fine and serve 40 hours of community service. Mack pictured in handcuffs being escorted from a police car
However, after legal back and forth over their sentences not being harsh enough, they were sentenced to four months in prison, which was halved in late December to two months. They ultimately served 32 days behind bars. Vanjae Ramgeet, 24, pictured above in handcuffs
However, after legal back and forth over their sentences not being harsh enough, they were sentenced to four months in prison, which was halved in late December to two months. They ultimately served 32 days behind bars.
Ramgeet, a Cayman resident and professional jet-ski racer, also was released from prison last week, as per The Cayman Compass.
Mack's family had repeatedly made public pleas for mercy and even sent a lette to President Donald Trump pleading for help in her case.
Her family says on the incident: 'Skylar made the decision to breach quarantine and Skylar needed to face the consequences.'
During her time in prison her family made repeated pleas for help, noting how Mack was terrified being so far from her family.
The original law called for a $2,400 fine and up to six months in prison, while the recently amended law calls for a $12,000 fine and up to two years in prison. Mack left and boyfriend Ramjeet right
'The stress, scared, she’s scared to death over there,' her mother Rebecca Burt previously said to Channel 2.
'She’s by herself; there’s not family there whatsoever to speak of,' she added.
The couple was the first to be sentenced under an amended law targeting COVID-19 violators.
The original law called for a $2,400 fine and up to six months in prison, while the recently amended law calls for a $12,000 fine and up to two years in prison.
Under the original law, a Canadian couple found guilty of violating coronavirus measures were ordered to pay a $1,200 fine each.