MOUNT DORA, Fla. -- Authorities are searching for a man armed with a machete who held his family against its will while saying he was Jesus and forced his 13-year-old sister to recite and write the Lord's Prayer within seven minutes, Lake County sheriff's deputies said.
Venel Piervil, 24, threatened to kill his mother and two sisters, ages 7 and 13, while holding them Thursday night at a home located on Heather Street in Mount Dora, deputies said.
During the incident, Piervil made his sisters recite the Lord's Prayer and forced the 13-year-old to write it within 7 minutes, threatening to kill her if she didn't comply, deputies said. Piervil's mother was able to flee the residence to seek help, Lake County sheriff's deputies said.
Deputies said Piervil then fled with his two sisters in a 1999 Chevrolet van and went to his aunt's residence on Gorham Road in Mount Dora, deputies said. The aunt told deputies that Piervil had held them against their will at her residence and took cell phones and car keys prior to his departure. Piervil also stated that it was Judgment Day and that he was Jesus, deputies said.
The aunt said Piervil may have headed to a residence in Gainesville, deputies said.
Both children were later located and were unharmed, deputies said. The location where they were found was not released. No adults were injured.
Detectives have obtained an arrest warrant for Piervil that charges him with two counts of kidnapping and one count of false imprisonment.
Piervil is described as an African-American man about 6 feet tall and 175 pounds. The vehicle he was last seen driving is described as a bronze 1999 Chevrolet conversion van with a "Jesus" sticker in the rear window.
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS
Venel Piervil, 24, threatened to kill his mother and two sisters, ages 7 and 13, while holding them Thursday night at a home located on Heather Street in Mount Dora, deputies said.
During the incident, Piervil made his sisters recite the Lord's Prayer and forced the 13-year-old to write it within 7 minutes, threatening to kill her if she didn't comply, deputies said. Piervil's mother was able to flee the residence to seek help, Lake County sheriff's deputies said.
Deputies said Piervil then fled with his two sisters in a 1999 Chevrolet van and went to his aunt's residence on Gorham Road in Mount Dora, deputies said. The aunt told deputies that Piervil had held them against their will at her residence and took cell phones and car keys prior to his departure. Piervil also stated that it was Judgment Day and that he was Jesus, deputies said.
The aunt said Piervil may have headed to a residence in Gainesville, deputies said.
Both children were later located and were unharmed, deputies said. The location where they were found was not released. No adults were injured.
Detectives have obtained an arrest warrant for Piervil that charges him with two counts of kidnapping and one count of false imprisonment.
Piervil is described as an African-American man about 6 feet tall and 175 pounds. The vehicle he was last seen driving is described as a bronze 1999 Chevrolet conversion van with a "Jesus" sticker in the rear window.
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS
