Woman who led Idaho mission for Haiti orphans to blame?

MERIDIAN, Idaho – As the 10 Idaho-based missionaries prepare to head to Haitian prison, new information has been uncovered on the woman leading the "orphan rescue" trip that landed them on the wrong-side of the law.

A Haitian judge was expected to make a determination Monday whether to free or prosecute the missionaries. However, that decision was not made. If the group remains in custody the five women would head to an all-female prison while the men would be sent to Haiti's national penitentiary.

The Americans, many from the Central Valley Baptist Church in Idaho, were caught taking children, without proper paperwork or required government approval, from Haiti into the Dominican Republic. The group claims they were trying to help children orphaned in the devastating earthquake. Some of the children, however, told Haitian officials that their parents were still alive. Several of the 33 children now under state care are believed to have been taken from large families, where the group came knocking door to door asking for children to be given up.

Dan Simon at CNN reports that the group's leader, Laura Silsby of New Life Children's Refuge, is described as the consummate go getter. She's a single mother – known for getting what she asks for – who started her own business and helps disadvantaged children around the world.  In 2006 Silsby won an award from a national women's business group. The awards committee made note of her charitable work, saying she had given hope to countless families around the world.

However, Silsby is facing deep financial problems: the bank foreclosed on her home, and one of her endeavors – a once-thriving online retail business – has been the target of numerous lawsuits which allege she has been delinquent with payments.

Meanwhile, a former manager at Silsby's Idaho company, Bryan Jack, told CNN that Silsby also has a reputation with some employees for basically promising "a bill of goods that were never delivered." Jack filed suit just this week complaining he had been told repeatedly he would be paid for back wages, but wasn't. He's asking for $20,000 in back wages, and Silsby is scheduled to appear in an Idaho court to address the charges Wednesday.

As Silsby left Idaho for Haiti, CNN reports that her world was closing in. Analysts say that may help explain why the mission was so disorganized. Many have wondered why, for such an ambitious mission, she and the group failed to clear the most basic hurdles such as paperwork to transport Haitian children, and registration as an adoption agency.

This is what Silsby told CNN shortly after being taken into custody: "We know the truth ultimately is that we came here to help the children and we know that God will reveal truth. We are praying for that and trusting him, because we came here knowing that this was his mission not ours."

Silsby is a respected member of the Central Valley Baptist Church, and that's why several members jumped at the chance to join her in establishing an orphanage. Church member Sean Lankford's wife and daughter are both now charged in the child trafficking case.

Lankford said they were actually asked if they would like to help. They both said yes - volunteering to go with Silsby just a few days before the left on that fateful trip to Haiti.

"I know their character, I know they did not believe that they were not doing anything illegal," Lankford said. "I absolutely know that, and would stake life on that."

Now, the question is whether their leader knew she was leading them down an illegal path. 

Meanwhile, the missionaries have hired a new attorney after their families say their first Haitian lawyer "tried to extort them." They said he wanted $30,000 in advance, and another $30,000 15 days after their release.

That lawyer denies it's a bribe and said it's simply his fee.