Haiti: FBI Adds Notorious Gang Leader Responsible for Kidnapping and Killing American Missionaries in Ten Most Wanted List

Haitian gangs have wreaked havoc in Haiti, and one of them was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list on Wednesday as Vitel'Homme Innocent has been named one of the most wanted men in the world for the kidnapping and slaying of American missionaries in 2022.

Haitian gangs have now taken over approximately 80% of Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti, and Vitel'Homme Innocent, who is known by his first name only, leads one of the most dangerous groups known as the Kraze Bayre Gang.

According to his FBI Most Wanted poster, the notorious gang leader was responsible for the "kidnapping of 17 Christian Missionaries in Haiti, including five children, one as young as 8 months old." He and his gang reportedly held these hostages at gunpoint and held them captive for 61 days, demanding a massive ransom for each and every one of his victims.

His FBI Most Wanted poster listed that he was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Hostage Taking, Hostage Taking, Conspiracy to Commit Hostage Taking Resulting in Death, and Attempted Hostage Taking Resulting in Death.

The gang leader is listed by the FBI to be between 5'7" to 5'10" feet with black hair and brown eyes. He is also listed at 150 pounds but is known to be armed and dangerous as he leads one of Haiti's most notorious gangs.

What Made Haiti Gang Leader Vitel'Homme Innocent One of the FBI's Most Wanted?

In October 2021, Vitel'Homme and his Kraze Bayre gang worked together with the 400 Mawozo gang to abduct missionaries from the US-based Christian Aid Ministries. Most of the group managed to escape after 61 days in captivity, but missionary Marie Franklin was killed. Her husband, Jean, was kidnapped in 2022 and was only freed after his family paid for his ransom and avoided his wife's fate.

Marie Odette Franklin was allegedly shot and killed by gang members, while her husband was allegedly taken into captivity and held at an undisclosed location in Haiti.

The FBI believes he is still in Haiti to this day but admitted that capturing him would be a difficult task as the country is currently in the middle of a massive humanitarian and political crisis as gangs take over the country little by little and force many to flee, according to the Associated Press.

Haiti Gang Leader Vitel'Homme Innocent May Face the Death Penalty in the US if Captured

Should the gang leader be captured despite the difficulties in doing so, Vitel'Homme Innocent may face a possible death sentence in the United States, though according to ABC News, he also has ties with other countries in the Caribbean.

"He is a menace to the island and he is clearly a menace to American citizens," stated special agent in charge of the FBI's Miami office, Jeffrey B. Veltri.

"The State Department is offering a reward of up to $2,000,0000 for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction. Our resolve to bring him to account for his alleged crimes will not waver. I want to thank the State Departments Diplomatic Security Service and the US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia for their close cooperation and partnership investigating these cases," he added.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Haitian gang leader Vitel'Homme Innocent added to FBI's list of 10 Most Wanted - CBS Miami