PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A U.S. missionary, Thomas Osbeck, has been detained after allegations of child abuse at an unlicensed orphanage in Cap-Haitien, according to Haitian police. Arold Jean, a spokesperson for the Cap-Haitien police department, confirmed that Osbeck was arrested on Wednesday with the assistance of U.S. authorities, though he did not specify which agency was involved.
Osbeck is accused of operating an illegal orphanage and lacks the necessary documentation to run such a facility, Jean stated. During the police investigation, authorities discovered at least 12 minors at the location. The Cap-Haitien police anticipate that Osbeck will be extradited back to the United States.
This detention follows the earlier arrest of Maylon Foshee, a 23-year-old from Mansfield, Louisiana, who has been charged with sexually abusing minors during multiple mission trips to Haiti between 2023 and 2026. Authorities allege that Foshee abused several minors under his care, some of whom received financial support from him while staying in Gonaives.
In addition to these recent cases, another significant incident involved Michael Geilenfeld, who was convicted last year in Miami for sexually abusing boys at an orphanage he founded in Port-au-Prince. Geilenfeld, who pleaded not guilty, operated his orphanage since 1985 before it was closed in 2014.
As of now, Osbeck’s legal representation has not been confirmed, and an Associated Press journalist was denied access to him in jail on Friday. Further developments regarding the charges and Osbeck’s extradition are expected in the coming days.
