Three more hostages released.

Local residents gather at the Hart Commons, Oct. 24, to pray for the hostages.

Three more hostages released.

Two of the hostages are from a Shelby family.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Three more hostages kidnapped by a violent gang in Haiti nearly two months ago have been released, according to Chistian Aid Ministries, the Ohio-based organization that sponsored the mission.

Two of the five missionaries from a Shelby family were released Sunday night, said Hart Mayor Vicki Platt.

“We are thankful to God that three more hostages were released last night,” states an announcement on the Christian Aid Ministries website posted Monday, Dec. 6, at 9:30 a.m. “Those who were released are safe and seem to be in good spirits. As with the previous release, we are not able to provide the names of the people released, the circumstances of the release, or any other details.”

It was announced that two of the 17 hostages were released Nov. 21, so the total remaining in captivity is 12.

Among the 17 people kidnapped are a Shelby area woman and four children.

It is not currently known if any of the local people are the ones who have been released from captivity.

“Only limited information can be provided, but we are able to report that the two hostages who were released are safe, in good spirits, and being cared for. We cannot provide or confirm the names of those released, the reasons for their release, where they are from, or their current location.”

The local family belongs to Hart Dunkard Brethren Church on North 56th Avenue. 

The missionaries had visited an orphanage in the Croix-des-Bouquets suburb prior to their abduction. They are being held in a location outside that suburb, which is controlled by the 400 Mawozo gang that captured them.

The local father was back at the missionary camp in Haiti at the time of the kidnapping. He stayed back from the group’s trip to an orphanage because was writing a sermon for the next day’s service.

One of the captured children was 8 months old at the time of the kidnapping. The ages of the other abducted children are 3, 6, 13 and 15. The adults include six men and six women up to the age of 48.

The gang that snatched the missionary group demanded $17 million — $1 million per person — in ransom. 

Please consider helping to fund local news. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous support of our advertisers and individuals who support our service. Click on the PayPal donation button located on the top right of our website.

This story is copyrighted © 2021, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.

As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.