WI Residents Among Kidnapped Missionaries In Haiti

HAITI — Wisconsin residents are among a group of 17 missionaries who were kidnapped while visiting an orphanage in Haiti. A Haitian gang has held the group since Oct. 16, Christian Aid Ministries said.

The identities of those kidnapped haven't been released, but the families of the kidnapped are from Amish, Mennonite and Anabaptist communities in Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Oregon and in Ontario, Canada, ministry spokesperson Weston Showalter said.

It was unclear how many of the missionaries were from Wisconsin.

The kidnappers demanded a ransom of $17 million for the group and threatened to kill some of the missionaries Friday, The Associated Press reported.

The group of 17 missionaries included five children aged 8 months to 15 years old, the ministry group said. The abductees included 16 Americans and one Canadian. Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries sent them to Haiti.

Christian Aid Ministries declined to comment on the kidnappers' threats and asked people to pray for the abductees and kidnappers.

Patch Editor Chris Mosby contributed to this article.