Michigan couple jailed in Mexico, daughter says
A Michigan man and his wife have been jailed in Cancun, Mexico, for allegedly disputing credit card charges at a resort, their daughter said.
Paul and Christy Akeo have been in a Mexican jail since March 4, according to social media posts made by Lindsey Hull. Hull said she is Christy Akeo's daughter and Paul Akeo's stepdaughter.
In a statement Hull posted on her Facebook page Monday, she said the couple is being "held captive is a direct result of (her parents) simply challenging wrongful credit card charges made by The Palace Company, aka Palace Resorts with American Express."
She included photos of her parents.
"American Express sided with my mom and Paul as a response to these wrongful charges," she said in the post. "The last 21 days of torture my parents have been through is a direct response of The Palace Company’s corruption, extortion, retaliation and blackmail against our parents."
The Palace Company officials were not immediately available for comment Tuesday.
Her story has gained media attention in Michigan and elsewhere. It's also drawn attention from a Michigan politician.
U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett, a Charlotte Republican, posted about the situation on X on Monday.
"Today, I was made aware of the situation involving two of my constituents, Paul and Christy Akeo, who were arrested by Mexican police," he said. "I have spoken to their family and assured them that my team and I took immediate action and are doing everything we can to help. I have been in contact and will continue working with the White House, State Department, and law enforcement partners in Michigan to ensure this situation is resolved as urgently and safely as possible."
Hull said her parents are being denied medical attention and the ability to communicate with their family and each other, in addition to being defamed in the local media.
"Despite asking numerous times to speak to Paul, we have yet to have ANY communication with him," she said. "My mom has lost 25 lbs. in 20 days due to inability to eat as the prison is serving her food they are aware she is allergic to. She also has a severe rash all over her body they refuse to treat."
Hull said she's brought her concerns about her parents' health to the U.S. Consulate, the U.S. Embassy, other U.S. federal agencies, and the office of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. She said the resort owner is demanding $250,000 and a non-disclosure agreement.
An employee of the U.S. Department of State's Office of Overseas Citizens Services, which helps American citizens who become victims of crime while traveling internationally, confirmed the office was aware of the case and is "monitoring it closely." They declined further comment, citing "privacy concerns."
"We have spent thousands upon thousands of dollars towards Mexican legal representation, but unfortunately that only goes so far when dealing with this level of corruption and extortion," Hull said in her post. "We have also met prior demands given to us by The Palace Company and yet they have had no serious response to letting our parents free."
She said her stepfather was a U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer and served for 21 years.
"PLEASE help us SPREAD THE WORD — SHARE THIS POST, TAG MEDIA OUTLETS AND TAG OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND REPRESENTATIVES," she pleaded in her post. "If you know our parents at all, you know they are undeserving of this. My family is asking for EVERYONE to step in and PLEASE….HELP US GET THEM HOME."
She urges everyone to call their U.S. congressional representative, the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassy.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan couple jailed in Mexico, daughter says
