Recovered/Located UGANDA - Kimberly Sue Endicott, 56, & Jean-Paul Mirenge Remezo, 38, kidnapped for ransom, 2 Apr 2019

[cybervampira]

American woman kidnapped by gunmen after guide drove in Uganda safari park 'without armed guard' | Daily Mail Online

The American woman kidnapped from a national park in southwest Uganda by four gunmen in military uniforms, who are now demanding a ransom of $500,000, has been pictured.

Grandmother Kimberly Sue Endicott, who turns 57 on April 15, was on a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park when her vehicle was ambushed on Tuesday evening, according to police.

A friend said Thursday that Endicott had shared an image on Instagram of four armed guards before she suddenly stopped posting two days ago.

Ugandan soldiers on Thursday expanded their hunt for the gunmen, who abducted the California woman and Wild Frontiers Safari driver Jean-Paul Mirenge Remezo, 38, around dusk on Tuesday.

State-run Uganda Wildlife Authority said the Congolese father-of-two was driving without an armed guard despite advice to have one present.



It was her lifelong dream to go there to see the gorillas.

'She had been posting pictures of her trip up until – it looks like two days ago, which brings it to Tuesday, which I believe is the day she got kidnapped.'

Canadian elderly couple Martin Julius and his wife Barbel were left behind on the Edward Track between Katoke Gate the wilderness camp, and reported the kidnapping to the camp manager who came to rescue them.

Police Actively Pursuing Suspected Kidnappers - Uganda Police Force

Government of Uganda on Twitter

Kimberly Sue Endicott Kidnapped in Uganda | Heavy.com

Search expands for American tourist kidnapped in Uganda's Queen Elizabeth National Park

 

[cybervampira]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=620459155044376

 

[Lynetta]

I'm so confused. Some article say she was a grandmother and 56. Others say she was 35. I've seen the gentlemen's age change too, although not drastically. 35-56 is a big difference!

 

[LadyL]

her FB:

https://www.facebook.com/kimberly.endicott.14

her IG:

https://www.instagram.com/solutions_skincare_oc/

 

[azure]

Can anyone find her personal Instagram? I can only find a skincare account.

 

[LadyL]

a really rude comment on her FB and with someone who agreed too

 

[cybervampira]

I'm so confused. Some article say she was a grandmother and 56. Others say she was 35. I've seen the gentlemen's age change too, although not drastically. 35-56 is a big difference!

Yeah, and earlier reports said she is from New York.

 

[cybervampira]

a really rude comment on her FB and with someone who agreed too

Idiots.

Fact check: Countries with a lower murder rate than USA: Iran, India, Senegal, Turkey, Morocco, to name a few.

 

[azure]

Idiots.

Fact check: Countries with a lower murder rate than USA: Iran, India, Senegal, Turkey, Morocco, to name a few.

Thank you!! Sitting here reading this on a solo trip to Cartagena, Colombia as a female traveler. I’m so sick of hearing about how traveling is so unsafe. It seems most Americans are afraid to go outside of their cul de sacs, except maybe to sit on a beach at a Sandals with a bunch of other white Americans and feel exotic. Sorry to be on my soapbox!

 

[cobalt sky]

If I'm understanding correctly, Endicott was on a "drive" in the park with at least two other tourists and the group's guide, Mr. Remezo. Endicott and Remezo were both kidnapped, the others were left at the vehicle unharmed. Apparently the policy of the park is that (personal?) guides and tourists are to be accompanied by armed Park Ranger guides as well. From the linked article:

The state-run Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) said an armed ranger is supposed to be with tourists and their guides at all times.

'We have armed ranger guides, if you're going out on a drive in the park you're supposed to have one but these tourists went out on their own without a guard,' spokesman Bashir Hangi told Reuters.

'From their camp in the park, they just got into a vehicle and went out. They should have notified us and informed us that they're going out for a game drive and then we would have availed them a guard but they didn't do this.'

I'm wondering why they didn't include an armed ranger?

American woman kidnapped by gunmen after guide drove in Uganda safari park 'without armed guard' | Daily Mail Online

 

[katydid23]

Did she know she was supposed to take an armed guard?

 

[cobalt sky]

Did she know she was supposed to take an armed guard?

I'm not sure if she would have even thought about it, I'm thinking she trusted that her guide would make the proper arrangements? I don't recall if the article said how long she had been there, maybe she wasn't familiar with their policies so didn't realize that an armed guard was needed.

I'm seeing some social media comments suggesting that the guide she was kidnapped with might be in on it. I have to admit I thought the exact same thing. Something is just weird that he would take the tour group out without an armed guard, it said in the article that he is an experienced guide so surely he should have known to make sure an armed guard was with them? Hmmmm so many questions!!

 

[katydid23]

I'm not sure if she would have even thought about it, I'm thinking she trusted that her guide would make the proper arrangements? I don't recall if the article said how long she had been there, maybe she wasn't familiar with their policies so didn't realize that an armed guard was needed.

I'm seeing some social media comments suggesting that the guide she was kidnapped with might be in on it. I have to admit I thought the exact same thing. Something is just weird that he would take the tour group out without an armed guard, it said in the article that he is an experienced guide so surely he should have known to make sure an armed guard was with them? Hmmmm so many questions!!

Yes, a lot of questions about the tour guide. As you said—-he has a lot of experience do he knows he was supposed to have an armed guard

Why would he put himself in danger by driving out alone with a blonde lady that would attract attention?

It is quite possible he helped set it up.

 

[TeaTime]

Poor lady, poor gentleman. They are not having a good time. I wouldn't go into the African bush without an armed guard or 2. Pray that they are released, unharmed.

 

[GraceG]

My husband is an executive with a large manufacturing company with factories around the world. When he goes to South Africa he has an armed bodyguard and I don't travel with him as I might do when he goes to Scotland or Northern England.

 

[dotr]

 

[TeaTime]

My husband is an executive with a large manufacturing company with factories around the world. When he goes to South Africa he has an armed bodyguard and I don't travel with him as I might do when he goes to Scotland or Northern England.

Unless he is staying in J'burg, you should go. Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and the southernmost coastal part of the country is relatively safe, the people are warm and friendly and it is so beautiful you will be in awe. Been twice. When in the bush, always had an armed guard. In the cities, not so much, but we were warned to not leave our hotel in J'burg. It was just a layover, so not a problem.

 

[modesty blaise]

Was she vset up by the driver perhaps? Why was the elderly couple left behind?

 

[katydid23]

Unless he is staying in J'burg, you should go. Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and the southernmost coastal part of the country is relatively safe, the people are warm and friendly and it is so beautiful you will be in awe. Been twice. When in the bush, always had an armed guard. In the cities, not so much, but we were warned to not leave our hotel in J'burg. It was just a layover, so not a problem.

You are probably right but my friend did have a scary experience in Capetown last year

She was vacationing with her husband and grown son. They were at an upscale restaurant with an outdoor patio. As they finished their meal she decided to go just across the street to a nice fabric shop to buy gifts to take home

Her husband watches as she goes into the shop. She finds some nice fabrics and is paying at the counter. The shopkeeper tells her he has his nicest fabrics in the back room and invites her to go look

She declines but he persists and she gets nervous and begins backing away when 2 young men come from the back room and approach her, motioning for her to follow them, and one put his arm on her back...

Just then her son and husband walk into the shop and she hurried to them saying let’s go

She said she really felt like they were going to force her into the back and she didnt know why but it was scary

They were leaving that day so she didn’t report them to the police but she did send s letter to the Embassy with the name and address of the shop

 

[Mamamerced]

American tourist Kimberly Sue Endicott released after being kidnapped in Uganda