US Facilitates Negotiations with Gang to Repatriate Slain American Missionaries from Haiti
Amidst heightened tensions, a landmark negotiation spearheaded by the US is underway to bring back the remains of an American couple tragically lost to a gang violence incident in Port-au-Prince. Follow the journey of the first US commercial flight to Haiti as it embarks on a solemn mission to repatriate the victims.
The first commercial flight from the US to Haiti in months is a somber journey. It is bringing back the bodies of Davy and Natalie Lloyd, a young American couple who were tragically killed by a gang in Port-au-Prince last week.
Accompanied by US Ambassador to Haiti Dennis Hankins and US security agents, the remains of the Lloyds will be flown from Haiti to Miami, and then onward to Kansas City.
Their return comes after a week of intense discussions between the US government, Haitian authorities, local organizations, and even gang leaders. All this happened in a city where criminal groups have caused chaos by cutting off the flow of essential humanitarian aid, damaging medical facilities, and blocking important roads.
According to a spokesperson from the US State Department speaking to CNN, US officials in Haiti are helping to transport the deceased individuals and their belongings back to the United States as per the families' requests.
“We will continue to work around the clock until the remains are returned back to the United States,” the spokesperson added.
The Toussaint Louverture International Airport, which has reopened after being closed for nearly three months due to gang violence, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on May 20.
The Toussaint Louverture International Airport, which has reopened after being closed for nearly three months due to gang violence, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on May 20.
Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters
The reopening of Toussaint Louverture International Airport this month is a significant development for Haiti's capital city, connecting it to the global community after a period of violence in the country. Local airline Sunrise has already resumed flights in May.
However, this positive step has been marred by the recent tragic incident involving the deaths of three missionaries - the Lloyds and Haitian mission director Jude Montis. This high-profile event has captured the attention of US officials and the White House.
Three individuals were ambushed in the early evening at the Missions in Haiti church and orphanage compound in Port-au-Prince’s Lizon neighborhood. The incident started as an armed robbery by one gang, resulting in their compound being ransacked and their supplies and aid being stolen.
Shortly after, a second gang arrived at the scene and a gunfight broke out, leading to a tragic retaliation against the mission staff. This information was relayed by Davy Lloyd’s father, David Lloyd, who is the founder of Missions in Haiti and was speaking to his son on the phone during the attack.
The Montis and the Lloyds took shelter in their home on the compound, but unfortunately, it was not sufficient, as Lloyd revealed to CNN. The tragic news of their deaths was confirmed by the Missions in Haiti later that night.
US officials promptly organized a mission to retrieve the bodies.
After the attack, staff members from the office of Missouri US Rep. Eric Burlison, Missouri US Sen. Josh Hawley, and the US National Security Council quickly contacted the State Department and US Embassy in Haiti.
Burlison shared, "When I learned about the situation, we promptly contacted the State Department for help. Despite our efforts, assistance did not arrive in time to prevent the tragic event."
“We have been working closely with Senator Hawley's office, the State Department, and airlines to bring them home to their families,” he said. “I want to thank everyone who is helping in these efforts.”
Natalie Lloyd’s mother, Naomi Baker, works in Burlison’s office, and her father, Ben Baker, is a state representative in Missouri.
US Ambassador to Haiti Dennis Hankins walks after Haiti’s transitional council ceremony, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti on April 25, 2024.
US Ambassador to Haiti Dennis Hankins walks after Haiti’s transitional council ceremony, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti on April 25, 2024.
After the tragic deaths, it was evident on Friday morning that Davy and Natalie's bodies needed to be retrieved promptly. The US government would be leading this operation, as reported by various sources.
There was no time to spare.
“The bodies could have been either desecrated or kidnapped,” one person involved in the operation told CNN. “So we pulled them out of a crime scene.”
Private ambulance service HERO Client Rescue was given the responsibility of retrieving the bodies before Haitian authorities could get there. However, founder Stacy Librandi Bourne mentioned to CNN that their teams faced a roadblock from armed gang members as they rushed to the scene.
This situation led to US officials in Haiti stepping in to mediate talks between various gangs in the area. Their goal was to ensure safe passage for HERO Client Rescue to access the bodies.
Evelio Contreras/CNN
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During a phone call with several gang leaders, Vitel’homme Innocent, who leads the armed group Kraze Baryé, stated that he wanted to claim the bodies of the two Americans. Innocent's group was not involved in the attacks, but they do control an area near the US embassy.
"After the call, I tried my best to reach out to the people who were in charge of the area, so that I could retrieve their bodies," Innocent shared with CNN.
When he heard about the tragic incident where a Haitian and two Americans lost their lives while trying to help others, he felt really sad.
Innocent is currently facing accusations of kidnapping American citizens, with a $2 million bounty on his head. He denies these allegations and hopes to clear his name in the future.
A funeral procession for mission director Judes Montis, who was killed by gangs along with two US missionary members, is heading to the cemetery after his funeral ceremony in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday.
A funeral procession for mission director Judes Montis, killed by gangs alongside the two US missionary members, makes its way to the cemetery after his funeral ceremony in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday.
Odelyn Joseph/AP
Emergency vehicles were soon allowed to continue onward to the charred site where they found the three bodies.
Davy, 23, and Natalie Lloyd, 21, were moved to a local hospital morgue by HERO for safekeeping. Sources revealed that Davy had signs of blunt force trauma and severe burns, but no bullet wounds were found during the inspection.
Taking human remains from a crime scene goes against protocol, especially in a city with high levels of lawlessness. Despite this, Haitian officials agreed to examine the remains after they were relocated, as reported by a source to CNN.
Haiti’s National Police did not provide a comment to CNN for this story. However, police spokesperson Gary Desrosiers stated last week that authorities will collaborate with international law enforcement to look into and prosecute the murders.
Eunide Majeur Montis, the wife of slain mission director Judes Montis, cries after attending his funeral service on May 28.
Eunide Majeur Montis, the wife of slain mission director Judes Montis, cries after attending his funeral service on May 28.
Odelyn Joseph/AP
Saying goodbye to Jude Montis
This week, the director of Missions in Haiti, Jude Montis, aged 45, was buried in Port-au-Prince. The local media captured the scene of a big crowd outside the church where his funeral took place. A somber band was also shown in the procession, walking behind his hearse as it moved down the street.
The bodies of the Lloyds have been waiting to return to Missouri until now. Natalie's father, Ben Baker, shared the ongoing challenges of bringing back his daughter and son-in-law on his Facebook page. The message was signed by Baker's spokesperson, Cassidy Anderson.
We are currently working on retrieving the bodies of Natalie and Davy. We need to obtain a waiver so their bodies can be transported without full embalming, as there are no facilities in Haiti that provide this service. Once we have the waiver, we will need to find an airline willing to transport them. Our hope is that everything will go smoothly.
According to sources from CNN, the only hospital in Port-au-Prince with the necessary resources for embalming is the General Hospital near Champ de Mars. However, the area has become a dangerous no-man's land due to urban warfare between gangs and police.
The nerves of family and supporters have been on edge, eagerly awaiting news of the safe return of the bodies. Over the weekend, Hawley took action by releasing a public letter, urging the Biden administration to ensure their security.
He emphasized the importance of safely transporting Natalie and Davy's bodies to the final point of departure. Hawley expressed concern about the current chaotic situation in Port-au-Prince, highlighting the major risks that exist until the bodies reach their destination.
But on Thursday morning, the remains of Davy and Natalie Lloyd were on their way back home.
This report includes contributions from CNN's AnneClaire Stapleton, Hande Atay Alam, Natalie Barr, and Nikki Carvajal.
Editor's P/S:
The tragic
