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First Official Statement

December 16, 2010 By 24 Comments

Released December 15, 2010. 10:00pmEST

American aid volunteer Paul Waggoner, working in Haiti since the January 12th, 2010 earthquake, was in Haitian court today on accusations of kidnapping stemming from the death of a child. Paul will be sent to the National Penitentiary tomorrow morning in Port Au Prince for 3 months to await the Magistrative Investigation. Like the majority of inmates at the National Penitentiary, Paul has not been convicted of any crime.

The child in question died at HCH (Haitian Community Hospital in Petionville) late February while Paul was working logistics at the location. Paul does not work on medical care. The grieving father has stated that he believes Paul stole the baby and that the baby is still alive due to the fact that the baby’s eyes would not close after death. He has reported that Paul either wanted to adopt, or sell the baby. He reported that morgue workers at HCH were selling babies, however, there was no morgue or morgue workers at this hospital.

Paul subsequently left Haiti for fear of this father, but returned in mid-March under the belief that this situation had been resolved. He has since co-founded MMRC Global (http://mmrcglobal.org), where he is known as Little Paul. MMRC has been focusing their recent efforts to house, transport and place medical personal during the devastating cholera outbreak.

MMRC Global, and the family of Paul Waggoner, are working with the US Embassy to keep Paul out of the notoriously dangerous National Penitentiary, however, the ultimate goal is to ensure Paul’s right to a fair hearing and speedy investigation in order to prove the accusations are groundless and Paul is set free.

For those with US connections:

Call local state reps/senators to pressure US embassy to move swiftly on this situation. http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Call the State Department at 202-647-6575 and ask for Suzanne Grantham.
Call Overseas Citizens Services at 202-647-5225.

For those with Haitian connections, please use to spread the word about this situation.

Thank you for your support and your concern!

MMRC Global

Filed Under: Haiti
  • http://www.haitimedicalaidproject.org Danny McAtee

    DON’T WORRY, LP. We’re getting you out. It may take a minute, but you WILL BE BACK, better than even.

    danny

  • http://tjmat729@mchsi.com Tricia Mattson

    OH, i have so much to say!!!! This is SO unbelievable that someone would think, Paul a human being that has dedicated the last 10 months to help others in Haiti would even question this. I have worked with Paul, he is one of the most caring, trustworthy and competent person I have worked with.

    I can say that us as Americans will be more skeptical about helping out in crisis areas if it is so easy to accuse a American of “stealing a body”. For Petes sake the government does not even have birth or death certificates for human beings……….

    Please call if you have questions…I am 100% sure this will not be validated. If this goes further, the Haitian people will loose the majority of their help, from missionary groups. Why dedicate your life for this when at any time you could be accused of a wrong doing because the govt is not set up to know who is were, who is alive and who is deceased… IF this is pursued, in the long run many Haitian people will suffer without missionary help.

    Blessings to you all!

  • http://haitiismyheart.blogspot.com/ “DEBBY”

    We are ALL behind you LIL PAUL and will do what it takes to get you out!!!! HUGE WARM HUGS N KISSES
    LOB U PAUL!!!! XOXOXOXOX <3<3<3<3
    Sincerely, Debby

  • http://topsy.com/mmrcglobal.org/first-official-statement?utm_source=pingback&utm_campaign=L2 Tweets that mention First Official Statement — Topsy.com

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Melissa Elliott, Melissa Elliott, Melissa Elliott, Bettie, LibertyHere and others. LibertyHere said: No good deed goes unpunished! RT @mmrcglobal: Our first official statement: http://bit.ly/i97YzG Please share. #Haiti #freeLP" [...]

  • BJ

    Weren’t the charges already thrown out by another judge?

  • Micaela

    LP–it took me about 30 minutes of creating a facebook page to have hundreds of people emailing me and posting in support of you. And that is just a fraction of the thousands of lives you’ve touched not only this past year, but your whole life.

    We are all going to do whatever we can to ensure that you are safe and you get out of there as soon as possible.

    We love you!!

  • http://gulfoilspill.blogspot.com/ viequesbound

    I am here as are so very many helping in any ways we can to get you out of this mess. Prayers are with you, Paul.
    Leesa

  • Kristin Wolf

    We’re all spreading the word, LP, and wish you a quick exit from this horrible situation. BP make sure to contact Emily Troutman and Jonathan Katz. Good luck.
    Kristin from Raising Haiti

  • Phil Hunoltmail.com

    When I first read about this, just moments ago, I decided that I not only wanted to offer my prayers that the Haitian Government would come to their senses and realize that this is a travesty in the making, BUT, I am calling for all NGO’s and others in Haiti that are helping with the relief effort to come forward and launch a coutry-wide protest over Paul’s situation. The Haitian people need his help, and NOW he needs ours….ALL OF OURS!!

    I feel confident that if we organize against this blatent act of stupidity, that it will be corrected and Paul will be exonerated of any and all wrongdoings in this case. For those of us state-side, that wanted to go over and help the Haitians, just remember one thing….THIS COULD HAVE BEEN YOU, OR ME! So, let’s act as if it was, okay? OKAY!!!!

  • Bridget Anne Mulrooney

    Strings are being pulled LP. You will be getting out. I love you!

  • Shelley Norris

    Where do I start??/ Paul is a very dear friend to me. We have know each other since middle school. I am so proud of what he has accomplished and how big his heart is. This jailing of such a good man is crazy. It seems all the good people of the world get jailed. I am looking at the positive of this horrible matter. Maybe this will get MMRC in the news and get more help. I talk to Paul weekly if not daily and I am always so proud to hear his story of the day. This has to end in a good way. I believe in Karma. This man has done nothing but help the people of Haiti, for months now. He loves everyone he comes into contact with and only thinks of himself. I will do anything to help Paul and to help the MMRC. I am so proud of you Paul and soon my love there will be justice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stay strong and stay yourself!!!! The good will prevail. KARMA BABY KARMA!!!!! CANT WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU!! remb, there is a reason you and I are where we are now in our lives!!!!

    Shelley Kay

  • Christoph Dennenmoser

    This case puts such a shame on the Haitian juristical system. My thoughts and prayers are with you!

  • Jacqueline

    Paul!!! so sorry this is happening to you. Don’t worry, you have a team of supporters, (including ones you haven’t even meet yet) who are routing for you big time and this whole experience will soon be over. Sending you positive vibes. Jacqui

  • bradley ward

    i have known paul waggoner for almost 20 years, im a very close friend of his family. theres no way that paul has done what he is accused of. i have an uncle that works for the c.i.a., and i have been in touch with him about this situation, and he will be working on it. please keep paul and his family in ur prayers, and lets get this man home!! paul, i lov eu man, keep ur head up, and we will all see u really soon brother.

  • Peter Haas

    Just posted last night here:

    http://tedfellows.posterous.com/cholera-in-haiti-and-injustice-for-aid-worker

    but folks you REALLY need to get Haitian diaspora and people in Haiti calling into talk radio on Haiti. Paul is getting RIPPED APART and scapegoated on talk radio there.

  • http://www.kellidunham.com Kelli Dunham

    Really? Haitians will lose the majority of their missionary aid? Is it fair for millions of people to suffer because one very terrible thing done by one clearly traumatized man? The expats that I know that have worked in Haiti long term never had worked under any illusion of safety and this won’t change their minds. I think this forum would be better served by concentrating on helping this situation to get resolved rather than musing/celebrating potential consequences.

  • Melissa Aronson

    My father, Jack Aronson, and my friend and esteemed colleague, Mike Griffin, flew to Haiti last month to work with BP and LP. They were so inspired by their work, they returned to the states and immediately began raising money for this amazing organization. We will do everything in our power to help LP.

  • lori

    i feel for this dude because haitian jail is no joke. (well, what’s left of them) but once this is all over, maybe people will realize that culture is an issue in times of emergency and at all other times. this isn’t about right or wrong or if he’s a good guy or not. it’s about cultural differences. and just maybe you shouldn’t go into countries that aren’t yours and do whatever seems right to you, according to your own cultural views. sure, this guy was trying to help and i probably would have been tempted to do the same thing. but if he knew more about haiti and the beliefs surrounding death, he might have been able to avoid this situation. and, loosing missionaries would NOT be the worse thing for my ayiti cherie. but that’s a whole other issue. good luck, dude.

  • http://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Little-Paul/126393884089967 Joseph Conrad

    Paul Waggoner has done nothing but extreme humanitarian work since he got to Haiti. Paul, lets get you out of there and back to what matters, helping the people of Haiti!

    Free Little Paul!

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Little-Paul/126393884089967

  • Mike Battaglia

    I don’t think that anyone is “celebrating” the potential consequences. I also don’t think that Tricia was saying what you are implying – that NGO groups should retaliate by cutting funds or anything like that. That would be silly.

    But I do think that this will have a very real impact on the number of people that are willing to volunteer in Haiti, as did the cholera outbreak and the recent civil unrest due to the elections. It’s one thing to be involved in an area where civilians are unruly and there’s a lot of crime… another entirely when the region’s government pulls something like this… I think that it will only serve to scare away potential relief groups to the area.

  • http://www.setfreerocks.com Pastor Kirk

    Love is bound to all cultures and helping is bound to all cultures as well. In any emergency you don’t have time to look at laws of land or culture. You only have time to look at what is right in your mind and what will benefit the person at that moment. The point is not to change haitian beliefs on death or LP view on helping those dying. It’s about working together and understanding each other, that’s justice. Your comment is negative to me, correct me if I am wrong.

  • http://www.setfreerocks.com Pastor Kirk

    Continue to work knowing your labor is not in vain LP and BP. It’s more inspiring and instructive. Praying for the father to grieve this terrible death of his son and for justice and lessons to be learned to encourage more to help those that can’t help themselves. LP and BP has been great advocates of human life and should be prayed for and supported. Thank you LP and BP for helping Pastor Valiere “Bobby” Delice at the Set Free church and orphanage in Croix des Bouquet. I will be seeing you there shortly.

  • little charlie

    ive known paul my whole life he is like a brother to me and my older brother this is shit there is no way, he was determind to help these people in a time of need i understand that the father is upset but in his heart he knows it is a mistake paul grew up with us most of my child hood and i dont think this is crazy i know it is. dont worry paul this will work itself out just hang tight brother …………… lil charlie

  • Lena

    I don’t know Paul…..but I’m praying anyway…that our God will intervene and bring justice.