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The father of four Christian missionaries kidnapped in Haiti who escaped with eight others said Tuesday they're in good shape and plan to return home soon.
The four kidnapped missionaries also had two other family members kidnapped, but they were released a few weeks earlier. They're affiliated with the Hart Dunkard Brethren Church in Hart, Michigan, approximately 190 miles northwest of Detroit.
"My family is all together and in good health. We are rejoicing together over the many ways that God answered the prayers of his people from all around the world," said Ron Marks, a church elder who read a statement from Ray Noecker, who, along with his wife, Cheryl, and five of their children, were kidnapped in October. Marks mentioned the family wishes to return to Michigan soon.
The Noecker families were in Haiti while working for the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries and among 17 people kidnapped on Oct. 16 after visiting an orphanage in Ganthier, in the Croix-des-Bouquets-area.
Four members of the Noecker family, along with eight others, made an overnight escape last week from their kidnappers. They walked miles over hard, moonlit terrain with an infant and children navigating through stars, CAM officials said Monday during a press conference, according to The Associated Press.
"After a number of hours of walking, day began to dawn and they eventually found someone who helped to make a phone call for help," CAM spokesman Weston Showalter said, AP reported. "They were finally free."
The 12 who escaped took a U.S. Coast Guard flight to Florida and were later reunited with five hostages who were previously released, according to AP.
Showalter said those kidnapped were not physically harmed, but faced obstacles of heat, mosquitoes, and bathing in contaminated water, resulting in sores for some people, AP reported.
Church member Carleton Horst identified the six hostages from Michigan as Cheryl Noecker, 48, Brandyn Noecker, 15, Kasondra Noecker, 14, Courtney Noecker, 18, Shelden Noecker, 6, and Cherilyn Noecker, 27.
Cheryl and Shelden were released a few weeks ago, Horst said.
Ray Noecker, 49, was in Haiti with his family but was not at the orphanage when the abduction took place.
Horst and Marks offered no details about the escape in a Zoom conference call with reporters.
"The story is for them to tell," Horst said.
Captors from the 400 Mawozo gang initially demanded millions of dollars in ransom. It is unclear if a ransom was paid.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
