Missionaries made dramatic overnight escape from captors in Haiti, agency says

Officials from the organization that the kidnapped missionaries in Haiti work for detailed their escape and captivity on Monday, saying the missionaries escaped at night when God told them to leave.

The officials with the groups last week announced that the last of the 17 missionaries who had been kidnapped were free.

According to an account of their escape provided by Christian Aid Ministries, the 12 remaining hostages made several plans to flee, but waited because “God gave clear signs that this was not the right time.”

On Dec. 15, at night, the remaining missionaries found a way to open the door of the room they were being kept in and walked northwest towards a mountain feature that they recognized. This group included a 10-month-old baby and three other children, according to the organization.

“They walked for possibly as much as ten miles, traveling through woods and thickets, working through thorns and briars,” the organization said.

After walking for several hours, they came across an individual when day broke and were able to make a phone call to get help. Later that day, they were flown to Florida on a Coast Guard flight.

During their captivity, the kidnappers provided regular meals — with some missionaries apparently liking some of the dishes that they were given — as well as “large amounts of baby food for the small children.” They also received “sufficient” drinking water, though they described the bathing water that was provided as “severely contaminated.”

The hostages were also given basic items for hygiene such as toilet paper and toothbrushes as well as electric fans that worked for several hours at a time.

Soon after they were kidnapped, a Haitian gang had demanded $1 million for every hostage in exchange for their release. Five hostages were released in November, though it is unclear if a partial ransom was paid for their freedom.