Mystery Surrounds Death of Dana Jackson in Haiti Vodou Retreat

Dana Jackson, a woman from North Carolina, was supposed to return from a Vodou spiritual retreat in Haiti on July 26. However, her family grew concerned when she didn’t come back as expected.

Dana’s son, Timothy Jackson, was already worried about the trip due to the political instability and violence in Haiti. Despite his concerns, Dana was determined to become a Vodou priestess.

“We talked, and she assured me she was fine once they arrived,” Timothy told WCNC Charlotte. “We would talk once a day or more.”

The last message Timothy received from his mother was on July 12. She told him they were going to church the next day and asked him to pray for her. Timothy knew that during the final part of the ceremony, she wouldn’t have access to her phone, which he had researched and found to be common.

Although Timothy was uneasy about the trip, his mother wasn’t traveling with strangers. Dana, 51, had developed relationships with the group she went with, known as Sosyete Nago.

Timothy expected a message from his mother on July 21. When he didn’t hear from her by July 22, he began to worry. His worst fears were confirmed when his grandmother called to tell him that his mother had died.

She told me, ‘your mom’s not coming back from Haiti,’ Timothy recalled. I hung up, called her back, and asked what she meant. She said, ‘she passed away.

After confirming his mother’s death with his grandfather, Timothy contacted the woman in charge of the retreat, Manbo Maude, seeking answers. The response he received only raised more questions.

They told me my mom had a stroke, then seizures, then changed the story to an asthma attack, Timothy said. I feel like they manipulated and lied to my mom, and I can’t stay quiet about it.

Timothy felt like the group was hiding something. He also discovered that his mother’s body had been moved multiple times within Haiti, and he didn’t know where it was located.

When Timothy received the official death certificate from Haiti, he noticed it was poorly done and lacked key information, including the cause of death.

To help cover the costs of bringing his mother’s body home, Timothy created a GoFundMe. The fundraiser has raised $10,000 of its $50,000 goal so far. In the GoFundMe description, Timothy wrote, We still don’t have clear answers about how she passed or where her body is. The group she traveled with has been untruthful and hard to reach. We’ve heard that Dana was neglected during her time at the retreat.

 

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