The Rev. John Kirkman of Western Michigan called my office to report that Mrs Betty Heidema's son was kidnapped near Quito, Ecuador. Mrs Heidema is the treasurer of his parish and her son is also Episcopalian. Fr. Kirkman asked us to contact Mrs Heidema directly, which my assistant did and obtained the following details:
On July 27th 1996, Mr John Heidema, married to Carol Karl, was one of 10 tourists visiting a site in the woods near Quito. The tour was sponsored by the International Tourist Company based in Ecuador. As the tourist group was walking through trail, 3 men suddenly showed up and tried to capture Mr Heidema's two daughters 15 and 18 years old respectively. The capturers said: "we want an American". Mr Heidema in desperation replied: "If you want an American, take me not the girls". The man captured three persons from the tourist group. The girls canoed out of the site to get to Quito and announced the incident to the authorities. So far the local Police in Quito, the US Embassy and the FBI have acted unsuccessfully. Their assessment is that the capturers are regular thieves who want money, they do not seem to belong to any organised group. Mrs Heidema and family believe that because of the FBI's display of surveillance, the thieves might be afraid and are not communicating with the authorities to negotiate the release of Mr John Heidema. Of the three men they took, they released one, who was asked by the capturers to report to the authorities that they were willing to make contact and negotiate, but the day in which the contact was supposed to happen there was very bad weather and the contact failed to occur. Nothing has been heard since of Mr John Heidema'a whereabouts. Because of this situation, the Heidema family and Fr. Kirkman felt that perhaps the church would not scare the capturers away, and they might be willing to communicate and negotiate with the church instead of the other authorities.
In their desperation the Heidema family and Fr. Kirkman have also contacted the Rev. John Peterson who already communicated with Bishop Neptali Larrea. I will also be communicating with Bishop Larrea. However, I am sharing this information with you for whatever other intervention the Episcopal Church might offer and for us to be prepared for whatever action needs to be taken in the future on this case.
Mrs Heidema indicated that her daughter in law's family came up with $100 thousand to offer to the capturers when they come out into the open to negotiate with whomever. In case it might be useful, the FBI Officer in Quito is Mr Sanchez.
Many thanks for whatever action and/or advice on how to help in this situation. Let's keep Mr John Heidema in our prayers so that he is released soon.