8 including an Irish missionary are missing after gunmen storm a Haiti orphanage
Authorities scrambled to relocate dozens of children and staff from the Saint-Hélène orphanage run by Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs, an international charity with offices in Mexico and France. The orphanage cares for more than 240 children, according to its website.
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3 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Simon Harris holds talks with Haitian counterpart over Gena Heraty kidnapping
Ireland's deputy premier Simon Harris has held talks with his Haitian counterpart about the kidnapping of Irish woman Gena Heraty. Mr Harris, Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, spoke to Haiti's foreign minister, Harvel Jean-Baptiste by phone and asked that everything is done to ensure the release of Ms Heraty and the other hostages, including a three-year-old child. Ms Heraty was kidnapped along with seven other people from an orphanage in Haiti. Ms Heraty is originally from Westport in Co Mayo. She oversees the orphanage, which is run by the humanitarian organisation Nos Petits Freres Et Soeurs (Our Little Brothers And Sisters). It is understood Ms Heraty was among seven employees who were taken in the incident as well as the young child. Speaking after the call, Mr Harris said: 'I welcome my engagement with Minister Harvel Jean Baptiste after what has been an extremely traumatic few days for the Heraty family, as well as the families of all those who were kidnapped. 'The minister assured me of his support in our work to ensure the safe release of Gena, and all the hostages, who have gone through the most horrendous of ordeals. 'We have agreed to stay in touch about the case, which remains extremely sensitive. 'My officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are in constant contact with the Heraty family. 'When we have further updates, we will provide them.' Mr Harris said he had been in contact with Ms Heraty's family on Monday. Ms Heraty is a member of Viatores Christi, a lay missionary organisation. In a statement, the group said Ms Heraty was taken by armed individuals from her home at the NPFS (Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs) compound in Kenscoff on Sunday morning. 'Gena has worked in Haiti for over 30 years, dedicating her life to children and adults with disabilities through her leadership of NPFS's Special Needs Programme,' it said. 'Her commitment, compassion and steady presence have made a lasting difference to many families in the region. 'Our organisation has supported NPFS's work for a number of years and has seen first-hand the impact of Gena's efforts. We are in close contact with our partners on the ground and remain hopeful for her safe return. 'We are thinking of Gena, her family and colleagues, and the adults and children in her care. We ask that her privacy — and that of those closest to her — be respected as efforts continue to clarify the situation.' The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the incident and is providing consular assistance.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Amy Bradley case hinges on 'somebody remembering' as investigators hunt for new leads 27 years later: expert
The disappearance of a recent college graduate from her cruise ship stateroom nearly 27 years ago continues to baffle investigators as a new documentary hopes to breathe fresh air into the search for a woman who seemingly vanished into thin air. In March 1998, Amy Bradley embarked on a Royal Caribbean International cruise with her family for a seven-day trip to the tropics. The 23-year-old had recently graduated from college and was preparing to pursue a master's degree in sports psychology. Her story is now being revisited in the new three-part Netflix documentary series, titled "Amy Bradley Is Missing." Parents Believe Daughter Who Vanished From Cruise Ship 27 Years Ago Is Still Alive On the evening before her disappearance, Bradley joined her brother Brad at the Rhapsody of the Seas nightclub, where the pair remained until the early morning hours of March 24. Bradley's father, Ron, last recalled seeing his daughter asleep on the cabin's balcony. Bradley vanished about a half an hour later, as the ship was preparing to dock in Curaçao. Read On The Fox News App An extensive search for the recent college graduate ensued, but authorities were unable to locate Bradley. The vessel continued its scheduled stops and ultimately returned to Puerto Rico four days later. New Person Of Interest Emerges In Documentary On Decades-old Disappearance Of Iowa News Anchor Countless rumors swirled around what happened to Bradley, including theories that she had fallen overboard and drowned, or that she had intentionally jumped to take her own life. Her parents, however, have never wavered from their belief that their daughter was kidnapped and could still be alive, according to the documentary. As the investigation into Bradley's death remained ongoing, Netherlands Antilles Coast Guard Lt. Sjoerd Soethout told reporters she could have fallen from the ship's balcony, The Associated Press reported. At the time, an FBI spokesperson said authorities had "no evidence of foul play," with the case ultimately running cold. Mystery Shrouds Case As American Tourist Still Presumed Missing In Popular Tourist Paradise "There is decidedly little evidence of a fall or push, nor would there be," Peter Valentin, chair of the Forensic Science Department at the University of New Haven and a former Connecticut State Police detective, told Fox News Digital. "There would be next to no evidence unless there would be a struggle prior to the push." One year after Bradley's death, her parents filed two lawsuits against Royal Caribbean. The family claimed the cruise line acted negligently in the handling of their daughter's disappearance, with Royal Caribbean releasing a statement at the time insisting they acted "appropriately and responsibly at all times." The lawsuits were subsequently dismissed in 2000. Royal Caribbean did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Young Crewmember Murdered Aboard Luxury Superyacht In Paradise Destination "The room was cleaned before the FBI agents had access," Valentin said. "Whether they realized it or not, they de-emphasized the value of physical evidence in that room." Years later, Bradley's family received a set of sexually explicit images of a woman from an adult website based in the Caribbean from an anonymous tipster, further solidifying her family's fears surrounding her being forced into sex trafficking. In the photos, the woman, identified as "Jas," posed provocatively while deliberately covering any identifiable markings, such as Bradley's tattoo of a Tasmanian Devil spinning a basketball. Investigators were also informed of alleged sightings of Bradley. Detectives' True Crime Podcast Helps Dig Up Breakthrough In Case That Haunted Family: 'Drew Audible Gasp' Tourist Judy Maurer told the documentary that she witnessed a woman she believed to be Bradley while in a restroom in Barbados, before three men allegedly escorted the woman away. David Carmichael also told filmmakers he may have seen Bradley while visiting Curaçao, adding that she was "flanked by two people." Another Curaçao sighting was reported by Navy veteran Bill Hefner, who believes he saw a distressed Bradley at a local bar. However, Valentin is skeptical of the potential sightings. "Eyewitnesses can become very convinced of what it is they say they saw, even though the forensic evidence makes it quite clear that they could not have seen what they said they saw," Valentin told Fox News Digital. 3 Chilling True Crime Cases Of Women Who Went On Vacation And Never Returned The former investigator added that the reported eyewitness accounts of Bradley should be compared to look for similarities. "Combine it with other forensic techniques and electronic evidence and it certainly suggests that investigative efforts should be focusing on a particular area," Valentin said. Additionally, investigators previously looked into Alastair "Yellow" Douglas, a member of the ship's band who Bradley was seen dancing with hours before her disappearance. Valentin points to roadblocks facing authorities regarding the lack of electronic evidence at the time of Bradley's disappearance. Madeleine Mccann Search Resumes As Suspect's Prison Release Looms After Years Behind Bars "Any connection between that musician and Bradley, however fleeting it might be, could be explored through the electronic evidence," Valentin said. "So this really is a generational leap in terms of what we're capable of doing now with electronic evidence." Throughout the years, Douglas has vehemently denied any involvement in Bradley's disappearance. While questions still swirl surrounding how Bradley vanished from her stateroom within such a short timeframe, Valentin highlights a potential point of interest in answering what happened to the young woman. GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE True Crime Hub "I would have been very keen to know if she was missing a pair of shoes, or did she take her shoes with her?" Valentin asked. "If all the shoes are accounted for, that's an interesting observation because that actually makes it a little less likely for some of the scenarios that were discussed about her leaving on her own accord." Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X In 2017, the FBI previously released age-progressing images of Bradley with the hopes of igniting new leads within the search. Despite the numerous leads, authorities have never charged anyone with a crime relating to Bradley's disappearance. Valentin suggests the passage of time since Bradley's disappearance could encourage anyone with information to speak up. "This case is one that I think is probably going to hinge on somebody remembering that they know something," Valentin said. "Because of this case reemerging in the public eye." Anyone who believes they have information pertaining to Bradley's disappearance is asked to contact their local FBI office or the nearest American embassy or consulate. "Amy Bradley Is Missing" is now streaming. Fox News Digital's Stephanie Nolasco and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Amy Bradley case hinges on 'somebody remembering' as investigators hunt for new leads 27 years later: expert Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Teenagers who tortured and killed two kittens sentenced
A teenage girl and boy who tortured and killed two kittens have been sentenced after one animal was 'completely ripped open' and found hanging from a tree. The 17-year-olds, who cannot be named for legal reasons, launched the 'sadistic' attack on the animals on 3 May near Ickenham Road, Ruislip, in north-west London. The kittens were found cut open with ropes attached to them, and 'dead pieces of flesh and fur appeared to have been burnt off them', a court heard. The hearing was told the boy had also dreamed of killing a human and 'getting away with murder'. Police analysis of his phone showed he had researched 'sacrificing animals to Satan' and watched a 'significant amount of videos of animals that have been mutilated and people that have been beheaded'. The court heard a note on his device read: 'I have got close to satisfying my urges. I have skinned, strangled and stabbed cats.' The police officer also told the hearing there were 'a few images of kittens that had been quite badly mutilated' on the phone of the girl, who was aged 16 at the time, as well as videos downloaded from a 'gore website' in the months leading up to the incident. The defendants appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in May and pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the protected animals by 'mutilating and killing' them. They also both admitted to one count of possession of a knife at Ruislip Golf Course. The boy was sentenced to a 12-month detention and training order, and the girl was sentenced to a nine-month detention and training order, both at the same court in London on Monday. District judge Hina Rai described the case as 'deeply shocking and concerning', telling the teenagers: 'Without a doubt, these are the most awful offences against animals that I have seen in this court.' She said their 'clearly premeditated' actions would have caused 'immense suffering' to the 'vulnerable and unable to escape' kittens. Describing the case as 'barbaric and deeply disturbing', DC Rebecca Rickhuss said the cats were both strays, which the defendants had bought from a woman on Gumtree who was attempting to rehome them. The court heard members of the public had seen the pair walking on a footpath in West Ruislip after picking up the kittens. The teenage boy was holding a black bag, which 'was seen to be moving slightly as if something alive was inside it'. The hearing was told members of the public became concerned when they later saw him and the girl running from the scene, which was described as 'horrific' by one member of the public who warned another to avoid it. Prosecutor Valerie Benjamin told the court police were alerted to the two 'dismembered' kittens left in a wooded area. Officers found a 'small black kitten hanging from a branch' by a red rope at the scene, she said. 'Its body was completely ripped open and its eyes were bulging out,' she added. The other animal 'had been cut open and had rope attached to it' when its body was discovered on the ground nearby, she told the hearing. Knives, blowtorches and scissors, with what appeared to have blood on them, were also found at the scene, the hearing was told. The prosecutor described how the animals were killed as 'sadistic'. Ms Benjamin told the court evidence from the boy's phone showed he had spoken about killing cats and dogs, suggesting a degree of planning for the attack, and had even searched how to kill a human. '[He] questioned how easy it would be to get away with murder, killing homeless people,' she said. DC Rickhuss had been involved in reviewing the boy's phone and detailed what she found on the device from the start of April until his arrest in May this year. She read out to the court a note discovered in his phone, which was written in May after the crime was committed. It stated: 'I really wanted to murder someone, and every day I was researching how to get away with murder. I have got close to satisfying my urges. I have skinned, strangled and stabbed cats.' She told reporters outside court after the sentencing hearing: 'Something like this doesn't randomly happen… [It's] very much the case that they got some kind of inspiration from somewhere else.' She cited online groups that are 'encouraging people to go out mutilating kittens and cats'. Ms Benjamin told the court the girl had said she had carried out the attack because she was 'interested in biology and had done a dissection at school'. Both had no previous convictions. The court also imposed a lifetime ban on both defendants from owning or keeping animals. Following sentencing, DC Rickhuss, who led the investigation, described the case as 'deeply distressing'. She added: 'If you suspect cruelty to animals, please report it. In some cases, it can be an early warning sign of something far more dangerous.'
