Kidnapped Ohio Missionaries Sang Hymns At Captors Before Harrowing Overnight Escape

MILLERSBURG, OH — A group of a dozen kidnapped missionaries made a cunning escape in the dead of night to flee their Haitian captors.

Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries released details on the kidnapping, two-month captivity and eventual escape of missionaries in Haiti during a news conference on Monday. The kidnapped group included three children: a 10-month-old baby, a 3-year-old boy and a 6-year-old boy. Since returning to the U.S. on Thursday, the missionaries appear to be doing OK, the organization said in a statement.

"All of the hostages seem to be doing reasonably well," said David Troyer, general director of Christian Aid Ministries. All captives have been reunited with their families.

The 17 missionaries were visiting Haiti for a variety of reasons, including helping children get to school; providing help for widows, the elderly and handicapped; delivering medicine; providing teaching; overseeing the rebuilding of homes; organizing work, and more.

The missionaries were aware of the danger they faced in Haiti, Christian Aid Ministries said in a statement.

"If we’d go only where it is safe, we’d stay put in our own communities," the organization said.

The Abduction

Most of the missionaries were in Haiti to fulfill a multi-year commitment to helping the nation, Troyer said. In October, they were invited to visit a Haitian orphanage and agreed to do so. During their visit, they played with the children there and provided what aid they could.

Five to 10 minutes after leaving the orphanage, the missionaries' van was rolling through the countryside when they encountered a roadblock. They tried to turn around, but a pickup truck emerged and blocked their way. The 400 Mawozo gang members then surrounded the van, according to Christian Aid Ministries Spokesperson Weston Showalter.

When they realized they were being abducted, the missionaries began singing a hymn to their captors. It was a hymn they sang repeatedly during their captivity, Christian Aid Ministries said. The chorus of the hymn goes like this: “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them."

All of the hostages were driven to a "small house and placed in a small room," Showalter said. He estimated the room was 10 feet by 12 feet.

The first night was sleepless for the hostages. There wasn't enough space for everyone to lie down, Showalter added. Mosquitoes buzzed in their ears, and the heat was suffocating. Anxiety was high. It was the start of a two-month captivity.

As their kidnapping wore on, routines developed. The hostages would start their morning together, singing and praying, Showalter said. Then they'd eat breakfast spaghetti and hardboiled eggs provided by their captors. Occasionally they'd get scrambled eggs.

At 1 p.m., the hostages would hold a second prayer meeting and ask God to help them escape. Then they'd get dinner, usually rice and beans. For Thanksgiving, they got a Haitian stew. The small children got baby food.

"We are thankful for that," Showalter said.

However, the captives were forced to use contaminated water to bathe. Many of the captives were bitten by bugs and then attempted to wash the wounds with the water. They developed festering sores on their bodies, Showalter added.

Threats and Escape

The 400 Mawozo gang's leader, Wilson Joseph, originally demanded $17 million for the group's release, or $1 million per hostage. He threatened to kill the hostages if he was not paid.

"I swear by thunder that if I don't get what I'm asking for, I will put a bullet in the heads of these Americans," Joseph said.

During Monday's news conference, Christian Aid Ministries said money was raised to pay the ransom but declined to provide any details on how much money was gathered and if the ransom was paid. Five of the 17 hostages returned home in late November and early December.

The remaining dozen hostages busily plotted their escape. They knew their plan would be dangerous but wanted to slip away, Showalter said.

"After discussing their plans, the group felt they should escape on Wednesday, December 15," Showalter said.

During the night, they put on their shoes, packed water and clothes, and stacked their mattresses in a corner. Then they forced open a door and silently and quickly escaped. Numerous guards were close by, Showalter said, but the escapees were not spotted.

The missionaries recognized a mountain in the distance and used it and the stars to navigate. They carefully wrapped one of the children to protect it and walked for miles through the night, cutting through thorns, brambles and briars.

As dawn arrived, they found a concerned bystander who helped them. They were delivered to the authorities.

"They were finally free," Showalter said.

The dozen missionaries then boarded a Coast Guard plane and flew into Florida. They arrived in the U.S. on Thursday. They have since been reunited with their families.

"Although we are deeply relieved and rejoice greatly that the hostages are free at last, we realize their journey back to normal life has only begun. They and their families need your continued prayers, support, and encouragement," Christian Aid Ministries said.

The organization also vowed to review its security measures and take steps to prevent further abductions from happening. They also promised to return to Haiti, though they are pausing service to the nation.