The household of a Florida couple lacking in Haiti says the 2 Americans have been ordered off of a bus and kidnapped within the Caribbean nation per week and a day in the past.
Family members of Jean-Dickens Toussaint and his spouse, Abigail Toussaint, each 33, say they already paid $6,000 in ransom, however now the alleged kidnapers are demanding upward of $200,000 per particular person.
The couple, who lives in Tamarac, in Broward County, Fla., reportedly left behind their younger son, who will flip two in a matter of days.
“The U.S. Division of State and our embassies and consulates overseas don’t have any higher precedence than the security and safety of U.S. residents abroad. We’re conscious of reviews of two U.S. residents lacking in Haiti,” a State Division spokesperson stated in an announcement to Fox Information Digital Sunday. “When a U.S. citizen is lacking, we work intently with native authorities as they perform their search efforts, and we share info with households nevertheless we are able to. Now we have nothing additional to share right now.”
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The couple’s 22-year-old niece, Christie Desormes, who lives out of state in Silver Spring, Maryland, lately informed WPLG that the Toussaints had solely deliberate to be in Haiti for 4 days to go to household and attend a competition.
However on March 18, she says, the couple was kidnapped whereas taking a bus from the Port-Au-Prince space.
“They stopped the bus at a cease after which requested for Individuals to get off the bus and their escorts off the bus, after which they took them,” Desormes informed the outlet.
“I’m nonetheless in a state of shock,” the couple’s niece added. “It feels prefer it didn’t occur, however I do know it did, particularly since I noticed them final month for my birthday.”
“I do have the worst-case situation enjoying in my head, however clearly I don’t need that to occur,” she stated. “We simply need to hear their voice as proof that they’re nonetheless alive.”
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The US State Division stated Individuals shouldn’t journey to Haiti.AP Photograph/Odelyn Joseph, File
Desormes, joined by her mom, stated the household already paid $6,000 in ransom, however now the alleged kidnapers upped their price.
“As soon as we despatched that cash, they tried to up the worth to $200,000 per particular person, and we don’t have that kind of cash,” she stated.
The couple’s son, whose second birthday is March 28, is within the care of his grandfather, Abigail’s father, the ladies stated.
“Please assist us deliver them again dwelling to him and our household. They’re U.S. residents. They’re dad and mom. They’re siblings. They’re my household,” Desormes wrote in a petition on Change.org. “They’re beloved and most of all they’re individuals who desperately want your assist. My Household and I’ve been stressing and doing every little thing we are able to to deliver them again dwelling, and now we want you and your voice to not solely signal the petition however to unfold the phrase and to speak to your native representatives to do one thing to rescue them as they did earlier than for the 17 missionaries who have been kidnapped in Haiti and returned unhurt final 12 months.”
In December 2021, the FBI and State Division performed a task in efforts to free 16 Individuals and one Canadian who traveled to Haiti on a missionary journey, NPR reported.
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Violence and abductions reportedly surged within the nation following the assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moïse in July of that 12 months.
As of Dec. 1, 2022, the US State Division urged Individuals to not journey to Haiti as a consequence of kidnapping, crime, and civil unrest.
“U.S. residents ought to depart Haiti now in gentle of the present safety and well being state of affairs and infrastructure challenges,” the Stage 4 advisory reads.
A 29-year-old Florida housekeeper robbed and assaulted her 83-year-old employer on Christmas Eve when the elderly woman said she couldn’t afford to pay her once-trusted worker a holiday bonus, authorities said this week.
Heather Nelson, 29, became irate when her request for a $500 bonus was rejected by her octogenarian boss — and decided to take what she wanted anyway, according to a press release from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
Heather Nelson was arrested in Florida after she robbed and assaulted the 83-year-old boss after she was denied a Christmas bonus. Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Florida (Official)/Facebook
“Nelson responded by physically wrenching the victim’s checkbook from her hand, stealing a check from the checkbook, and then, I guess in an effort to ruin other people’s Christmas as well, stole Christmas cards that were set to be mailed out also containing checks,” Sheriff Wayne Ivey said in the statement.
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The housekeeper, whom Ivey repeatedly called a “Grinch,” allegedly grabbed the checkbook with such force that she nearly broke the woman’s wrist.
Nelson then allegedly wrote a check for $1,400 — and used the victim’s credit card to pay her rent and make other purchases, BCSO said.
“What’s next … kick her dog, too?” Ivey asked in the release.
The housekeeper, whom Ivey repeatedly called a “Grinch,” allegedly grabbed the checkbook with such force that she nearly broke the woman’s wrist. Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Florida (Official)/FacebookPolice talk with Nelson after her arrest. Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Florida (Official)/Facebook
Nelson was nabbed on Jan. 7 after the check cleared and credit card transactions were posted, Law and Crime reported.
“Since you were so worried about getting your bonus, we had some extra gifts for you, like a keepsake booking photo, a slightly used pair of shower slides and unlimited access to our world-famous one-star dining facility where you can enjoy absolutely nothing you eat,” Ivey snarked in the BCSO statement.
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Nelson was nabbed on Jan. 7 after the check cleared and credit card transactions were posted. Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Florida (Official)/Facebook
She faces a laundry list of charges, including aggravated battery, robbery, forgery, fraud, passing a counterfeit instrument and grand theft, according to court filings reviewed by the outlet.
She was held on a $30,000 bond and released on Jan 9, the outlet reported.
Florida State has retooled its wide receiver room through the NCAA Transfer Portal after multiple starters and contributors moved on from Tallahassee. The Seminoles will have an array of different pass-catchers to support quarterback transfer Thomas Castellanos in 2025.
Earlier this week, former FSU wide receiver Darion Williamson announced his transfer to Miami (OH). Williamson entered the portal in December to explore his options elsewhere. The veteran spent the last five seasons with the Seminoles after signing with the program as a three-star prospect in Mike Norvell’s inaugural recruiting class in 2020.
This past season, Williamson appeared in all 12 games, contributing on special teams and as a member of the wide receiver rotation on offense. He caught five passes for 71 yards, including a 35-yard reception in the loss to SMU in September.
In total, Williamson appeared in 41 games, making two starts, and hauled in 35 receptions for 454 yards and one touchdown. His best performance with the Seminoles came in 2022 in a victory against Boston College where he caught five passes for 98 yards in one half of action.
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READ MORE: Former FSU Football Standout Accepts Invitation To Reese’s Senior Bowl
The Tennessee native had a ton of potential but injuries limited his contributions over the years. He’ll have a chance to instantly play a big role on a Miami (OH) squad that is losing its top three wide receivers.
Williamson stands at 6-foot-3, 202 pounds. He’s expected to have one season of eligibility remaining. Williamson got an extra year due to COVID-19 and redshirted in 2022. Williamson played in five games that season but one of those appearances was in the bowl game against Oklahoma, which doesn’t count towards the redshirt rule.
FSU has six scholarship wide receivers eligible to return in 2025; junior Hykeem Williams, redshirt sophomore Jalen Brown, sophomore Lawayne McCoy, sophomore BJ Gibson, redshirt freshman Elijah Moore, and redshirt freshman Camdon Frier.
The Seminoles signed four wide receivers during the Early Signing Period; four-star Jayvan Boggs, four-star Tae’Shaun Gelsey, three-star Teriq Mallory, and three-star JUCO Jordan Scott. The program also landed USC wide receiver transfer Duce Robinson and Tennessee wide receiver transfer Squirrel White.
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Last month, the program officially announced the addition of new wide receivers coach Tim Harris Jr.
Williamson is one of 19 scholarship players to enter the transfer portal since the conclusion of a 2-10 season. Redshirt senior wide receiver Deuce Spann, redshirt junior tight end Jackson West, redshirt junior defensive end Byron Turner Jr, redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Tomiwa Durojaiye, senior defensive back Omarion Cooper, sophomore wide receiver Destyn Hill, redshirt freshman defensive end Lamont Green Jr., redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Julian Armella, junior tight end Brian Courtney, redshirt sophomore tight end Jerrale Powers, junior defensive end Marvin Jones Jr., redshirt sophomore linebacker Shawn Murphy, true freshman quarterback Luke Kromenhoek, freshman defensive end DD Holmes, redshirt junior defensive end Patrick Payton, redshirt junior defensive tackle Grady Kelly, senior wide receiver Malik Benson, and redshirt freshman linebacker DeMarco Ward have also declared their intentions to move on.
READ MORE: Florida State Drops In On Blue-Chip Miami Commitment
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Florida basketball prepares for its third game of the Southeastern Conference schedule this Saturday in Fayetteville against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Coming off a monumental upset of the Tennessee Volunteers, the Gators are looking to keep the momentum going.
However, their inability to rein in the Kentucky Wildcats in Rupp Arena to open the calendar year has left some doubt as to whether Todd Golden’s gang can dominate away from the O’Connell Center. At least, that appears to be evident in CBS Sports’ expert picks for Saturday’s SEC matchup.
Of the seven respondents on the expert panel, four picked the Hogs straight up — Matt Norlander, Kyle Boone, Cameron Salerno and Isaac Trotter — while Gary Parrish, David Cobb and Jerry Palm picked the Orange and Blue.
“Arkansas opened conference play with two tough draws. The Razorbacks faced No. 1 Tennessee on the road and No. 23 Ole Miss at home,” the summary begins. “Calipari hasn’t dropped three straight SEC games since the 2020-21 season when he was the head man at Kentucky. Florida is coming off an emotional win over No. 1 Tennessee earlier this week. This seems like the perfect storm for Arkansas to pull off the home upset.”
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How to watch Florida-Arkansas
The Gators return to the road to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville on Saturday, Jan. 11. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
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