Abigail and Jean-Dickens Toussaint, aged 33, were kidnapped by a Haitian gang while traveling on a bus in Port-au-Prince on March 18.
Who are Abigail and Jean-Dickens Toussaint? They are a couple from Florida kidnapped in Haiti on March 18, just one hour after landing in Port-au-Prince.
They were traveling on a bus when a local gang stopped it and demanded that all Americans get off, including the Toussaints and a family friend who was traveling with them.
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The family reported that they received a message from the couple shortly after they landed, but they did not receive any updates after that.
The couple had traveled to Haiti to visit sick relatives and attend a community festival, despite warnings from their family about the country’s political unrest and gang activity.
The family warned them not to go, but they chose to go anyway. The couple’s kidnappers initially demanded $6,000 for their return, but they later increased the amount to $200,000.
The family does not have that kind of money and is uncertain about how the kidnappers communicate with them.
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The Toussaints have a one-year-old son who was left behind with family in the US. The family is devastated and worried that they will miss their son’s second birthday if they are not released soon.
The couple’s niece, Christie Desormes, started a Change.org petition to get the attention of politicians who can help bring her aunt and uncle home. The petition has received nearly 4,500 signatures so far.
The US Department of State has not confirmed the kidnapping but has said that they are aware of reports of two US citizens missing in Haiti.
The family has not contacted the Haitian police but has reached out to the US Embassy and the US Department of Homeland Security.
The family is desperate to hear from the couple to know that they are still alive. They are hoping that the kidnappers will release the couple soon, but they are unsure when that will happen.
The situation in Haiti is a reminder of the dangers of traveling to countries with political unrest and gang activity.
It is important to take heed of warnings from family and authorities and to consider the risks before traveling to such places.
The US Department of State offers travel advisories that can help travelers make informed decisions about where to go and what precautions to take.
In the case of the Toussaints, their family is hoping for a safe and speedy release and is asking for help from the public and the government.
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