Florida couple lacking in Haiti are being held for ransom, household says

A Florida couple who went to Haiti to go to sick relations have been kidnapped and are being held for ransom, their household says.

Abigail and Jean-Dickens Toussaint had been making their solution to Leogan, about 27 miles west of Port-au-Prince, however by no means made it, their household instructed NBC Miami. They haven’t been heard from since March 18.

Their niece, Christie Desormes, instructed NBC Miami {that a} group ordered her aunt and uncle off of a bus and have stored them captive since. The household stated once they paid greater than $2,000 of the $6,000 demanded ransom, the abductors modified the deal.

“It’s plenty of feelings, it’s devastating, you’re feeling indignant it occurred and then you definately really feel numb on the similar time as a result of it doesn’t really feel actual,” Desormes stated.

Desormes urged the general public to contact their state representatives to ask for assist in bringing her aunt and uncle residence.

The U.S. State Division stated in an announcement to NBC Information Sunday that the company was conscious of studies of two lacking Individuals in Haiti.

“When a U.S. citizen is lacking, we work carefully with native authorities as they perform their search efforts, and we share data with households nonetheless we are able to,” the assertion stated. “We’ve got nothing additional to share presently.”

The First Haitian Baptist Church of Pompano Seashore posted concerning the Toussaints on Wednesday, asking for its congregation to hope for the couple.

“Together with our prayers, we’re additionally difficult our authorities officers to make use of their sources in bringing these two again to us the place they belong,” the church stated.