EXCLUSIVE: [UPDATED 7:03 PM] TLS has exclusively confirmed with a family member of Jacob Ostreicher that the American who was trapped in Bolivia is safe in the United States.
My father is in the US,” the family member told TLS. “He was kidnapped in Bolivia,” the family member says, and a ransom was demanded. The ransom money was paid, and Jacob was then dropped off in an undisclosed location in the United States.
However, the family member TLS spoke to has still not spoken to him.
“I have still not spoken to him, but we know he’s safe – and we’re still trying to figure out where he is.”
Ostreicher, who has family in Lakewood, was held in Bolivia since June 2011. He was finally released on bail in December of 2012 and has been under House Arrest since.
UPDATE: Family says he was missing for a week prior to the report of his arrival in the United States. Family also tells TLS they were only notified this afternoon about his arrival.
UPDATE 7:03 PM: The family member tells TLS that Jacob was in touch with another member of the family.
[TLS]
Was this a kidnapping or a “kidnapping” ?
Are the “kidnappers” considered “good guys” in this case?
TLS always on the know of good news first !
I just saw on YWN that David Greenfield spoke to Jacob this past Friday how come you are saying that the Family says he was missing for a week prior to the report of his arrival in the United States???
Thank you to all askonim involved especially YW & Staff as well as NJ Congressman Chris Smith who devoted countless & endless days/nights & resources on Jacobs behalf. May hashem give Jacob a speedy recovery of this entire ordeal & repay all those involved, many times over! Chasdei Hashem!!
Hodu L’Hashem Ki Tov!
wonderful news!!!!!! b’h—now let’s hear the same from yonason b’ malka—and shlomo mordechai b’ rifka
Sounds fishy to me
Wonderful news for the holiday season. God bless!!
Sounds fishy to me to! Welcome home!
I’m very relieved, thank you Hashem!!!
to #6 shlomo mordechai HALEVI b’ rifka
May Hashem be praised. Now each of us needs to ask ourselves why this happened and what we need to do to prevent such a gzeira like this from ever happening again….
To he’s home
what we do to prevent this from this happening again is not to go to bolivia & other 3rd world countries
lol, yes, choose the easy things like not going to Bolivia. Self-introspection and improvement? Nah, let’s focus on the thing you weren’t going to do anyway. Good thinking!
to # 12
the name is ‘sholom’ mordechai halevy ben rifka
Congressman Chris Smith deserves a lot of credit for really taking on this case and going all out on Ostreichers behalf .Its great to see that his efforts bore fruit and there is a happy ending
Great news
Welcome Home Jacob! As an American who has lived and worked in Bolivia for years, i also have seen the institutional corruption that is at all levels. There is no justice in Bolivia, the corrupt prey on Americans freely at will.
Im very familiar with what you went through. God Bless you and Welcome Home!
Write a book and now make a movie!