Paul Waggoner, an American, temporarily abandoned his post at a construction company in Nantucket, to co-found Materials Management Relief Corps and travel to Haiti to provide assistance to the victims of the recent tragedy (WMUR). However, his plans went awry when Waggoner witnessed the death of a baby, Keevens, while volunteering at the Haitian Community Hospital in February. However, the baby's father, Frantz Philistin, refused to believe that his son was dead and, instead, accused Waggoner of killing his son. In addition to accusing Waggoner of murder, the father also claimed that he drugged the baby into a zombielike state, used voodoo to steal his spirit, kidnapped the child, and sold his organs (Troutman). .
Philistin's initial accusations came in March, when the father approached the first judge to hear the case. However, that judge threw out the charges. Philistin then approached a second judge who has since handled the case (Troutman). This judge ruled that Waggoner should be detained in prison, possibly for three months, while the case is investigated. Haitian law allows defendants to be imprisoned without charge during investigations (WMUR). After hearing the accusations, Waggoner fled from Haiti, only to return two weeks later (Troutman). .
Doctors on site at the time of Keevens death have come forward to defend Waggoner. Dr. David Villareal, who was the doctor to treat Keevens, said when the baby first arrived at the hospital, he was very near death because of his fever, malnourishment, and dehydration. Another doctor who was present at the hospital that night, Dr. Kenneth Adams, said, "I listened to the baby's chest for at least two minutes. And there were neither breath sounds nor heartbeats. Rigor mortis had set in, the baby's lips and skin were bluish gray and there was corneal clouding of the eyes. I always take very seriously pronouncing the death of any patient.
