Where is Austin Tice?: We believe he’s alive

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

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Kelly McEvers (0:18)

Hey, I'm Kelly McEvers, and this is Embedded from NPR. Today, we're starting a new series. It's a partnership with the BBC.

Fourteen years ago, an American journalist named Austin Tice disappeared in Syria. I was one of the many people who were reporting in Syria at the time, and I will never forget it. By now, it has become one of the biggest missing person cases of our time. Austin's mother, Deborah Tice, has never stopped looking for him. World leaders have called for his release, but still very little is known about what actually happened to him.

For the past few years, BBC investigative journalists Josh Baker and Sara Obidat have followed Austin's trail. And what they have uncovered is a story about power struggles, secret documents, and people who do not want the story to be told. Many of the discoveries in this investigation have never been made public before. And just so you know, we have been checking in with Austin's family as we have reported it. OK, here's Josh and Sara.

SPEAKER_3 (1:34)

We're literally racing from room to room.

SPEAKER_4 (1:38)

We're going up another floor.

Josh Baker (1:41)

Each room is kind of in runs act.

SPEAKER_6 (1:45)

He's saying we need to look here. Okay, we just need to sweep this.

SPEAKER_4 (1:51)

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

Sara Obidat (1:57)

Something about Lebanese intelligence.

Josh Baker (2:03)

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_4 (2:23)

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

SPEAKER_6 (2:31)

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

Josh Baker (2:45)

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_4 (3:03)

If I lift this up, can you look underneath?

SPEAKER_6 (3:11)

Nothing here.

SPEAKER_4 (3:15)

On this end?

Oh my god. Oh my god. Maybe, yeah, maybe.

Josh Baker (3:26)

Let me go quickly and try.

SPEAKER_4 (3:27)

You try. Yeah, keep looking.

Josh Baker (3:32)

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_4 (3:48)

Oh, that's amazing. One more night.

Yes, this is it. Okay, hold on.

Josh Baker (4:02)

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

Deborah Tice (4:13)

Let's see, I need 13, please.

Josh Baker (4:16)

Thank you.

Kelly McEvers (4:17)

Do you get nervous?

Deborah Tice (4:19)

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

You ready to go? Hi, Deborah.

Josh Baker (4:29)

Hey.

Deborah Tice (4:31)

I'm so glad you're here. Thank you for coming. I really appreciate it.

Josh Baker (4:37)

This is Deborah Tice. Today marks the 12th anniversary of Austin's disappearance. I'm 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 (5:00)

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.

Josh Baker (5:30)

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 (5:56)

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.