Haiti Kidnappers Free American Nurse, Daughter, Says Aid Group

After weeks of captivity, American nurse Alix Dorsainvil and her daughter have finally been released a few weeks after they were kidnapped in Haiti. This was confirmed by the aid organization that she is part of, El Roi Haiti.

The New Hampshire woman was doing volunteer work for the group when armed men stormed her place of work just outside of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and dragged her and her daughter away. She is also the wife of El Roi Haiti founder Sandro Dorsainvil. She and her daughter were confirmed "not harmed" and also "healthy."

The American nurse was kidnapped last July 27, and she spent over a week at the hands of a Haitian gang that was asking for a million dollars in ransom in exchange for her release. Gangs in Haiti often target locals for a kidnap-for-ransom scheme but have lately found that foreigners like Dorsainvil may turn a bigger profit for them.

"It is with a heart of gratitude and immense joy that we at El Roi Haiti confirm the safe release of our staff member and friend, Alix Dorsainvil, and her child who were held hostage in Port au Prince," the organization stated in its blog post.

CBS News noted that it is unclear why the American citizen and her daughter were released, if the group paid the ransom, or if the family will flee Haiti and return to the US.

The US State Department has also remained silent on the kidnappers' demands.

US Government Worked 'Behind the Scenes' To Secure Kidnapped American Nurse's Release

While details of the New Hampshire-born nurse's release are still unclear, El Roi Haiti expressed gratitude to US authorities for working "tirelessly behind the scenes." The non-profit organization also thanked a faith-based global security ministry for providing consultants that helped lead to Alix Dorsainvil and her daughter's release.

Haitian gangs often seek up to a million US dollars to free kidnapped individuals. However, Pierre Esperance, executive director of the National Human Rights Defense Network in Haiti, told the Associated Press that other gangs often ask for $100,000 but will accept just a $10,000 payment.

Esperance added that some gangs also demand a second or third ransom before releasing someone. It was noted that over 530 people have been kidnapped since January.

Details of American Nurse's Kidnapping in Haiti Surface

As Dorsainvil was released, Haitian law enforcement revealed that after being abducted from her clinic, the kidnappers used her cell phone to call her husband, Sandro Dorsainvil. The phone was then pinged to an area not far from where the mother and daughter pair were kidnapped.

According to the New York Post, the place where the phone was pinged from an area controlled by the Canaan Gang, which has been responsible for several kidnappings in the area. For the American nurse's release, they were reportedly asking $1 million.

Following Dorsainvil's release, the US State Department released a statement, saying, "We have no greater priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas."

It added, "As you can imagine, these individuals have been through a very difficult ordeal, both physically and mentally."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Alix Dorsainvil and her child freed and confirmed safe after being kidnapped in Haiti - ANC News