Dana Jackson, a 51-year-old woman from North Carolina, tragically died while on a Vodou retreat in Haiti, leaving her family desperate for answers from the leaders of the group she was involved with. Jackson had been practicing Vodou for a few years and had aspirations of becoming a Manbo priestess, a respected female ritual specialist.
Her son, Timothy Jackson, explained that his mother had been researching African traditional spiritual belief systems, which led her to explore Vodou. He emphasized that she was diligent in her research and took her spiritual journey seriously. Timothy admitted feeling nervous about his mother’s trip but found some comfort in the fact that she was traveling with a group called Sosyete, with whom she had developed a relationship.
According to the leaders of the Vodou group, Dana Jackson fainted during a Vodou ritual and subsequently experienced a heart attack and stroke. However, Timothy revealed that during a portion of the ceremony, his mother was not allowed to contact the outside world. He shared that he had heard from her on July 13, just thirteen days before her scheduled return to the US. She sent him a message saying they would talk on the 21st, but when that day arrived, Timothy couldn’t reach her. Concerned, he reached out to her grandmother, who devastatingly informed him that his mother had passed away in Haiti.
Timothy’s initial suspicion was that something sinister had occurred during the final part of the ceremony. When he spoke to one of the Vodou group leaders, they immediately asked him how much he already knew about the situation. This raised a red flag for Timothy, who feared that his mother’s death might not have been accidental.
The group’s initial explanation was that Dana Jackson became ill and fainted during the ceremony. When she regained consciousness, she believed she was in Virginia, despite her family having moved away from there a year prior. The group claimed that they took her to the hospital, where she experienced seizures, a heart attack, and a stroke. However, Timothy found it suspicious that they mentioned his mother not bringing her medication, as she did not require any. He believed they were attempting to construct a false narrative.
As of now, Timothy still doesn’t know where his mother’s body is, despite promises from the group that they would provide an update by August 16. He expressed frustration at the lack of information and support from the US Embassy, who seemed to have only recently received the necessary paperwork. To help cover funeral and autopsy expenses, a GoFundMe campaign has been set up, raising over $11,300.
The family is determined to have an autopsy performed to uncover the true cause of Dana Jackson’s death. Timothy vehemently asserted that his mother did not go to Haiti with the intention of never returning. He firmly believes that something happened during the last nine days that led to her untimely demise.
It is worth noting that Haiti is currently under a Level 4 travel warning by the US State Department. This means that non-emergency government personnel have been advised to leave, resulting in limited support for Americans who may encounter difficulties in the country. The situation adds another layer of complexity to the already distressing circumstances surrounding Dana Jackson’s death.
