The person at the center of this case
17 Christian missionaries (including 5 children)
Violent Crime · Open
179 days waiting
LANMO SANJOU
Justice for 17 Christian missionaries (including 5 children) — the trail went cold in 2026, but the truth hasn't.
Start here
Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Lanmo Sanjou has kidney medical issues and possible ties to or may travel to the Dominican Republic—where might he be hiding?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What ransom payments were made and by whom, and how does this connect to the gang's operations?
👁️
witness
Lead #3What do the released hostages and their families know about the gang's structure and other members?
In October 2021, Lanmo Sanjou, leader of the gang 400 Mawozo, allegedly orchestrated the kidnapping of 17 Christian missionaries in Haiti, including five children as young as 8 months old. The hostages were held at gunpoint and most remained captive for 61 days while the gang demanded ransom for each victim. Sanjou remains wanted by U.S. federal authorities for conspiracy to commit hostage taking and hostage taking, with possible ties to the Dominican Republic.
Case
#1038
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Try asking
Claim this imported case
A one-time $10 claim transfers this imported case workspace to your account. You get 10 uploads for this case, 25 daily AI questions for this case, and public tips with files route to you.
10 uploads25 AI questions/day
This does not start a subscription. When the included limits are reached, the Personal plan unlocks more workspace capacity.
More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4How is gang 400 Mawozo organized and who are its key members beyond Sanjou?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Conspiracy to Commit Hostage Taking; Hostage Taking Caution: Lanmo Sanjou, as leader of the gang 400 Mawozo, allegedly participated in the October 2021, kidnapping of 17 Christian Missionaries in Haiti, including five children, one as young as 8 months old. The hostages were allegedly held at gunpoint and most remained captive for 61 days.
The gang demanded ransom payment for each of the victims. Lanmo Sanjou was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Hostage Taking and Hostage Taking by an indictment filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Remarks: Sanjou has medical issues with his kidneys. He has ties to or may travel to the Dominican Republic.
Timeline of Events
👤
2021-10-01
Kidnapping of 17 Christian missionaries
Lanmo Sanjou and gang 400 Mawozo allegedly kidnapped 17 Christian missionaries in Haiti, including five children, one as young as 8 months old.
🔍
2021-12-31
Release of hostages
Most of the 17 hostages were released after approximately 61 days of captivity, during which the gang demanded ransom payments for each victim.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:October 1, 2021
Last Updated:September 9, 2026
Up to $1 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case
Leave a comment
Comments
Case Information
Incident:October 1, 2021
Last Updated:September 9, 2026
Up to $1 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case