Haiti: Arrest in connection with murder of American and Haitian missionaries

In a major development, Haitian authorities have arrested a man suspected of involvement in the killings of two American missionaries and a Haitian director of a nonprofit organization. The incident, which occurred in May, was an armed attack that shocked many in Haiti, a country already struggling with serious security problems.

The tragic event, which occurred on May 23, claimed the lives of American missionaries Davy Lloyd and his wife, Natalie Lloyd, along with Jude Montis, the Haitian national director of the Claremore, Okla.-based nonprofit Missions in Haiti Inc. The violence has been blamed on criminal gangs that hold sway over much of Port-au-Prince, controlling about 80 percent of the city.

The crime scene was the community of Lizon, north of the Haitian capital, which has been gripped by gang-related violence. Haitian national police posted a video on social media showing the arrest of a 52-year-old man in connection with the Lloyds and Montis murders.

Arrests in such high-profile cases are rare in Haiti, and the video did not specify charges or the suspect’s direct involvement in the killings. Further details about the man’s legal proceedings remain unclear, though police noted that his phone was apparently used to make calls shortly after the killings.

David Lloyd, Davy Lloyd’s father, expressed deep sadness and confusion over the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s arrest in a telephone interview with The Associated Press from Oklahoma. He recalled that the young couple was looking forward to celebrating their second wedding anniversary in June.

“My son and daughter-in-law’s commitment to Haiti and its people is unwavering,” Lloyd said.

Missouri Congressman Ben Baker, Natalie Lloyd’s father, shared a cautiously optimistic outlook on the case following the arrest, expressing his desire for justice and accountability for those responsible for the tragedy.

“We call for full justice and accountability for these horrific acts,” Baker told AP.