Jean-Pierre Duman is the son of Duman, Sr.. The elder Duman was a regional governor in Haiti, and Jean-Pierre ran the region's local prison. Any persons who protested against the Dumans' rule were thrown in the jail and executed, often through the use of torture. When an election ousted Duman, Sr., from office, the Dumans fled the country, with "most of the island's GNP" (gross national product). Jean-Pierre re-created himself as "Luc Renard", a playboy living in luxury at his family's house on Star Island.