Debra Tice, mother of missing U.S. journalist Austin Tice, has written to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging his assistance in locating her son, who disappeared in Syria 12 years ago.
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Missing American journalist Austin Tice's mother, Debra wrote a touching letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin asking him to help her find her son. Austin was a freelance reporter who went missing in Syria 12 years ago while covering the war.
In her message, which NBC News got late Wednesday, Debra Tice said, "You have deep ties to the Syrian government, which can be a huge help to our never-ending efforts to find Austin and bring our family back together." The letter stresses how critical the situation is and uses the holiday mood of kindness.
The request comes soon after Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, told Debra Tice that Israel would not attack a secret prison outside of Damascus where she thinks her son may be being held.
The jail is under Mt. Qasioun and can be reached through a secret tunnel that hasn't been fully explored yet. Bashar al-Assad, the dictator of Syria, was recently removed from power and fled to Russia. This has renewed hopes for Austin's safe return.
"We would, of course, be willing to travel to Moscow or any place on earth to put our arms around our precious Austin and bring him safely home," Tice said.
Even though foreign relations are complicated, Debra Tice had no doubts about asking Putin for help. "The goal is to find Austin and bring him home." "I'm ready to do anything," she said in an interview.
The Tice family is still holding on to hope and has asked world leaders to help them get back together with their son.
