Florida couple visiting Haiti are kidnapped by a gang who demand $200,000 for his or her protected return 

A Florida couple visiting Haiti was kidnapped almost an hour after touchdown as their captors demand $200,000 for his or her protected return.

Abigail and Jean-Dickens Toussaint, each 33, had been taken on March 18 by a neighborhood gang who stopped their Port-au-Prince bus and demanded all People get off, in accordance with their household.

The couple’s grieving household warned them to steer clear of the nation that’s overrun with political unrest and gangs.

‘We had been very nervous after they stated they had been going, we advised them to not go however they wished to go,’ relative Nikese Toussaint, advised ABC7.

A family-friend touring with them from the airport to the close by metropolis of Leogan was additionally taken.

The couple’s grieving household warned them to steer clear of the nation that’s overrun with political unrest and gangs

The day the couple went lacking, they despatched a message to their household telling them they landed safely round 8.55am native time, in accordance with ABC7. They by no means despatched one other replace.

The couple’s kidnappers initially requested the household for $6,000 for his or her return earlier than growing the quantity to $200,000.

‘We don’t have that sort of cash,’ Christie Desormes, their niece, advised WPLG.

It’s unclear how the abductors communicated with the household.

The couple shares a one-year-old son, who stayed behind within the US with household. He’s at the moment staying along with his household. 

The Toussaints would possibly miss their son’s second birthday on March 28 if they aren’t launched.

‘It’s loads of feelings, it’s devastating, you are feeling offended it occurred and you then really feel numb on the identical time as a result of it doesn’t really feel actual,’ Desormes advised NBC.

Desormes began a Change.org petition to get the eye of politicians who will help carry her aunt and uncle house.

‘They’re U.S. residents. They’re mother and father. They’re siblings. They’re my household. They’re cherished and most of all they’re individuals who desperately want your assist,’ Desormes wrote.

As of Sunday, almost 4,500 signatures had been garnered.

The day the couple went lacking, they despatched a message to their household telling them they landed safely round 8.55am native time. They by no means despatched one other replace

The couple’s kidnappers initially requested the household for $6,000 for his or her return earlier than growing the quantity to $200,000

It’s unclear how the household has been capable of have contact with the gang that took the couple. Pictured: Civilians in Haiti 

The couple shares a one-year-old son, who stayed behind within the US with household. He’s at the moment staying along with his household

It’s doubtless the couple will miss their son’s second birthday on March 28 in the event that they don’t return house in time. Pictured: Abigail Toussaint 

The household is working with US authorities to carry the couple house. 

‘When a U.S. citizen is lacking, we work intently with native authorities as they perform their search efforts, and we share data with households nevertheless we are able to,’ the US State Division wrote in a press release. 

No extra data was supplied.

In 2021, the kidnapping of 17 missionaries in Haiti made nationwide headlines. The group with 12 adults and 5 minors traveled to the nation with the Ohio-based company Christian Assist Ministries (CAM). 

They had been kidnapped in October 2021 and had been held hostage till their courageous escape two months later in December. 

Their household began a Change.org petition to get the eye of politicians to assist carry them house