The family of a Christian missionary previously reported dead in Africa claims it has new information suggesting that he is alive and being held captive.
Jerry Krause, a pilot and missionary to the West African country of Mali, disappeared July 7, 2013 during a refueling stop on a flight from South Africa to Mali, according to Newsweek. South African authorities pronounced Krause dead and claimed that his plane crashed, despite finding no debris, two months after his disappearance. Krause’s family claim that South African authorities later rescinded their initial report and told them new evidence suggested Krause is alive. Krause’s family is now pressuring the Trump administration to find and bring him home.
Krause last contacted his family from the island of Sao Tome during his refueling stop on the way to Mali. His family believes he was kidnapped, though no group has come forward to claim responsibility or demand ransom.
Krause’s family first reached out to sources in the Pentagon and the Department of Defense upon learning that he may still be alive. Those sources told the family they needed President Donald Trump’s approval before they could work on finding Krause, according to WCCO 4 News.
The family then began a social media campaign to galvanize supporters, asking them to contact their senators and congressmen to lobby for the administration to help Krause. Three senators and four congressmen have spoken with Krause’s family about possible efforts to bring him home, according to the campaign’s most recent Facebook post.
“We decided we should really get something going here to get my dad back,” Jessica, Krause’s youngest daughter, told WCCO 4 News.
“We’re ready. We’re tired. It’s just been a long time,” she said.
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