Haitian gang leader added to FBI's Ten Most Wanted list for kidnapping and killing Americans

Source: Associated Press

Haitian gang leader added to FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list for kidnapping and killing Americans

BY TERRY SPENCER
Updated 5:19 PM EST, November 15, 2023

MIRAMAR, Fla. (AP) — The FBI added a Haitian gang leader to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list on Wednesday for the kidnapping and slaying of American missionaries in that country, but conceded capturing him will be a difficult task in the often lawless nation.

In conjunction with the announcement, the U.S. State Department said it will pay up to $2 million for information leading to the arrest of Vitel’Homme Innocent, who is known by his first name only. He has already been indicted in the United States for the armed kidnapping of 16 Christian missionaries in 2021 and the slaying of missionary Marie Franklin and kidnapping of her husband, Jean, in 2022.

Most of the first group from Christian Aid Ministries, which included five children, escaped after 61 days in captivity and the others were released. Jean Franklin was released after three weeks when his family paid a ransom.

The FBI says Vitel’Homme leads the Kraze Bayre gang and worked in concert with the 400 Mawozo gang in the abductions. The agency believes he is still in Haiti and would face a possible death sentence in the U.S. if he were ever captured and convicted of Franklin’s murder.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/haitian-gang-leader-kidnapping-indictment-01de8607fdc7901827d47600dba05b59

________________________________________________

Related: Vitel’Homme Innocent Added to FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List (FBI)

Link to tweet