Six male soccer players of Haiti's Special Olympics delegation reported missing in Florida
ORLANDO, FLORIDA: Six members of Haiti's Special Olympics delegation have been missing since Monday, June 6. The six male soccer players left their luggage behind and reportedly disappeared after returning their hotel room keys.
As per Orlando Sentinel, Antione Joseph Mithon, 34; Nicholson Fontilus, 20; Peter Mianovich Berlus, 19; Anderson Petit-Frere, 18; Steevenson Jacquet, 24; and Oriol Jean, 18, were last seen Monday around 2:30 pm at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. According to a statement from the Special Olympics USA Games, five of the adults are not Special Olympics athletes, and the sixth is an adult with an intellectual disability.
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MISSING: Osceola County deputies are looking for missing members of Haiti’s delegation in town for the Special Olympics USA Games.
— Greg Angel (@NewsGuyGreg) June 7, 2022
OCSO says no foul play suspected.
Anyone with info urged to contact @OsceolaSheriff: pic.twitter.com/wY8bgOiu3o
"The well-being of these delegates is our foremost concern. Local authorities have indicated they have no reason to believe the health and safety of any of the individuals is at risk. To expand the reach and effectiveness of law enforcement’s efforts to locate these individuals, they have been reported as missing persons," said Special Olympics USA Games, as per WFTV-9.
"The Osceola County Sheriff's Office is actively investigating a missing person's case involving members of the Haitian delegation participating in the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games. We are in communication with Walt Disney World, Special Olympics, and our Law Enforcement and Federal partners. At this time, we believe this is an isolated event and do not suspect foul play. We are asking anyone with information to please contact the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. Please see the attached Bulletin," reads the press release by the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.
The Special Olympics 2022 began on Sunday, June 5, and will conclude on June 12. As per the official website, the event unites more than 5,500 athletes and coaches from all 50 states and the Caribbean and 125,000 spectators. Some of the missing soccer players were featured on Team Haiti's Instagram account last week.
"My name is Nicholson Fontilus. I am from Port-au-Prince and I am 19 years old. I am a unified player and I am part of the Special Olympics Haiti unified soccer team [football emoji] as one of the goalkeepers. It's a big joy and honor to be part of that team. I will do my best to help the athletes in the USA Games Orlando 2022. [medal emoji]," read Nicholson Fontilus's introduction.
"My name is Lionelson Derezil. I am 24 years old and I am from Port-au-Prince. I have been part of the movement for more than 6 years. It’s the first time that I will participate in an international tournament for Special Olympics. I play soccer [football emoji] for team Haiti! I hope to do my best to help my team become champions in the USA Games 2022 in Orlando. [celebration emoji] [medal emoji]," said Lionelson Derezil.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Peter Mianovitch Berlus is from Les Cayes, 18-year-old Anderson Petit-Frère is from Port-au-Prince, and 18-year-old Oriol Jean is from the town of Jacme. As per WFTV-9, "Haiti has been struggling with political, economic, and social turmoil for the better part of a decade, rocked by major earthquakes and the assassination of its president exactly 11 months ago. From 2020 to 2021, the number of Haitians caught trying to get to the U.S. illegally by boat has tripled.
