Where Is Austin Tice?: 1. "We Believe He’s Alive"

Joshua Baker (0:00)

Before we begin, I just want to explain that this series is an investigation into a real life missing person case. We're in regular contact with that person's family and inform them of the content of every episode.

Thanks for listening.

Sara Obeidat (0:30)

We're literally racing from room to room.

SPEAKER_3 (0:34)

We're going up another floor.

Joshua Baker (0:37)

His room has kind of been ransacked.

SPEAKER_4 (0:41)

He's saying we need to look here.

SPEAKER_5 (0:44)

We just need to sweep this.

SPEAKER_3 (0:48)

Somebody tried to burn this and it didn't burn. I don't know if it's significant.

SPEAKER_6 (0:53)

Something about Levin's intelligence.

Joshua Baker (0:59)

It's December 2024 I'm moving down the dark, narrow, windowless corridor of a Syrian intelligence facility with my colleague Sara.

This is one of the most notorious and secretive buildings in Syria. And it's where we've come to get answers.

SPEAKER_3 (1:19)

I'm in a room that's been set on fire.

Joshua Baker (1:24)

It's so precarious.

SPEAKER_4 (1:27)

It says, the Russian detainee, the German courts, confessions, the death of number 1002 I guess that's a pertinent number.

Joshua Baker (1:41)

We're searching for information about Austin Tice. He's an American journalist who disappeared in Syria more than a decade ago.

Today, he's one of the most high-profile missing person cases in the world.

SPEAKER_3 (1:59)

If I lift this up, can you look underneath?

SPEAKER_7 (2:07)

Nothing here.

SPEAKER_3 (2:11)

And this end? Oh, my God.

SPEAKER_7 (2:17)

Oh, my God.

SPEAKER_3 (2:19)

Maybe. Yeah, maybe.

Joshua Baker (2:22)

Let me go quickly and try.

SPEAKER_3 (2:24)

You try.

SPEAKER_7 (2:25)

Yeah, keep looking.

Joshua Baker (2:28)

The keys we've just found might unlock us safe, that we've been told contains answers about what happened to Austin Tice. Now, I need to see if these are the right keys.

SPEAKER_3 (2:44)

Oh, that's amazing. One more note.

Yes, this is it. Okay, hold on.

Joshua Baker (2:58)

Let me just step back a few months to the 14th of August 2024, the first time I met Austin's mother.

Debra Tice (3:09)

Let's see, I need 13, please.

Joshua Baker (3:12)

Thank you.

SPEAKER_4 (3:13)

Do you get nervous?

Debra Tice (3:15)

No, I did persuasive speaking when I was in middle school. It's definitely good for mothering.

Are you ready to go? Hey Debra. Hey. I'm so glad you're here. Thank you for coming.

I really appreciate it.

Joshua Baker (3:33)

This is Debra Tice. Today marks the 12th anniversary of Austin's disappearance. And following her down a corridor at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, we pass by a large poster of Austin. He's broad-shouldered, handsome, with thick dark hair and a chiseled jaw.

Then we enter a grand ballroom.

SPEAKER_11 (3:57)

Everyone, we're about to get started if you want to start getting to your seats.

Today, we recognize a major and sobering step in the long journey home for Austin Tice. Twelve years ago today, Austin was taken in Syria where he was working as a journalist. We are joining together with Austin's friends and his family in urging the US government to bring Austin home.

Joshua Baker (4:26)

This is no ordinary gathering. There are FBI agents, members of the intelligence community and government officials. Because for more than a decade, every American president has paid attention to Austin's case.

On a big screen, recorded messages start to play. There's the head of McClatchy, one of the news organizations that Austin worked for.

SPEAKER_12 (4:52)

Today marks yet another year without Austin Tice, an American journalist and veteran US Marine who has been missing in Syria for over a decade.

Joshua Baker (5:01)

He's followed by Donald Trump's former national security adviser.

SPEAKER_7 (5:05)

Austin was the type of man that every dad wants their son to grow up to be like. A US Marine, a photojournalist in combat zones, a Georgetown Law student, a great son and a terrific brother.

Joshua Baker (5:19)

And then his mother Debra is introduced. She has this long, striking silver hair and warm, gentle smile.

She's petite and quietly spoken, but exudes a strength that comes from years of refusing to give up on her son.

SPEAKER_11 (5:35)

She's a badass. She's a woman of faith. I know she's a huge inspiration to me and a huge inspiration to many. If you can welcome to the stage Debra Tice.

Debra Tice (5:49)

Right now, I just want to speak to Austin publicly.

Stay strong, Austin. Keep the faith. We have many good people working for you and praying for your release. You will walk free again. I love you. You hang in there.

Joshua Baker (6:15)

The people here see Austin as an American hero who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, who put his life on the line to report on the civil war in Syria. As the applause dies down, I look around. Faces are still, eyes fixed on nothing. A thousand-yard stare shared by many, not least of all Debra, whose expression seems caught between gratitude for those who've come to honour her son and the quiet, unrelenting weight of his absence.