19 Famous People Held Hostage

Jill Carroll reported for the Christian Science Monitor.Christian Science MonitorJill Carroll worked in Iraq when she was kidnapped.She was kidnapped.The kidnapping happened in 2006. Her interpreter died during the kidnapping. She got released after almost four months. Before release, kidnappers demanded she make a video praising her captors and attacking the United States.

In 2012, Richard Engel and four crew members were kidnapped in Syria while working for NBC. They faced psychological torture during the ordeal. They got released after five days. NBC first blamed a Shia group for the kidnapping, but they stated a Sunni faction was more likely when they revised the story in 2015.They revised the story in 2015.This happened in 2015.

On August 23, 2008, Amanda Lindhout and her team were kidnapped by insurgents from the Hizbul Islam fundamentalist group in Somalia while doing journalism. She was raped and tortured repeatedly during the 15-month ordeal. She got released on November 25, 2009, after her family and photographer Nigel Brennan's family paid their ransom.The 15-month ordeal.She was released on November 25, 2009, after her family and the family of her photographer Nigel Brennan paid their ransom.

Mellissa Fung was on a journalism assignment in Afghanistan when members of the Hizb-e-Islami group kidnapped her in 2008. She was released after almost a month of negotiations. No ransom was paid; she was freed in a prisoner exchange deal.She was released.She was released after almost a month of negotiations. There was no ransom paid, and she was freed in a prisoner exchange deal.

Photojournalist Tyler Hicks and three colleagues were kidnapped for six days.They were kidnapped for six days.Pro-Qaddafi forces kidnapped Hicks in Libya in 2011. Hicks returned to work for the New York Times.The New York Times.Hicks later won a Pulitzer for photos from the 2013 terrorist attack on a Nairobi mall.

On Aug. 19, 2014, ISIS members beheaded journalist James Foley after he was kidnapped.Being kidnapped.He was kidnapped in Northwest Syria in 2012. He said in a video of his execution, "I wish I had more time. I wish I could have the hope for freedom to see my family once again."

In 1985, after covering Lebanon's civil war for three years, Terry Anderson was taken hostage by Shiite Hezbollah militants. He was held captive for six years and nine months before being released.He was held captive.He was held captive for six years and nine months before being released.

Phillip Sands was kidnapped by men claiming to be Sunni Muslims in Iraq who sought to use him to pressure British troops into withdrawing from Iraq. After five days in captivity, U.S. soldiers looking for insurgents rescued him.Five days in captivity.He was rescued by chance by U.S. soldiers looking for insurgents.

In 2008, 15-year-old Eloá Pimentel was held hostage for 100 hours by her 22-year-old ex-boyfriend Lindemberg Fernandes Alves. She and her friend Nayara da Silva were both shot during the incident.She and her friend Nayara da Silva were both shot during the incident.Pimentel died from her injuries on October 18, 2008.

In 2004, American contractor Roy Hallums was kidnapped by insurgents in Baghdad. He was held captive in a small underground cell for over 300 days. Delta Force operators raided the farmhouse where he was being held and freed him on September 7, 2005.He was held captive.He was held captive in a small underground cell for over 300 days. He was freed on September 7, 2005 when Delta Force operators raided the farmhouse where he was being held.Delta Force operators raided the farmhouse where he was being held.The farmhouse where he was being held.

In 2013, Dutch reporter Judith Spiegel and Boudewijn Berendsen were kidnapped in Yemen. They were freed after six months in captivity.Judith Spiegel spent six months in captivity.They dropped them at the Dutch consulate in Sanaa, Yemen, and no group claimed responsibility.

Abu Sayyaf terrorists held missionaries Gracia and Martin Burnham captive for over a year in Mindanao.A rescue operation by the Philippine military saved them.The Philippine military conducted the rescue.The Philippine military carried out the rescue.The operation ended with Martin's death. Gracia suffered a gunshot wound to the leg but was airlifted to safety.

Father Lawrence Martin Jenco directed Catholic Relief Services in Beirut when he was taken hostage.He was taken hostage.Shiite Muslims held him for over 500 days in 1985. They regularly beat him during the ordeal.

Politician Ingrid Betancourt Pulecio was kidnapped.Marxist guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia kidnapped her while she campaigned for president of Colombia in 2002.Marxist guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia campaigned to be president of Columbia in 2002. Colombian military forces rescued her and 14 other hostages in 2008.

French journalists Hervé Ghesquierè and Stéphane Taponier were held captive.They were held captive.Taliban forces held them for over 500 days from 2009 to 2011 in Afghanistan. They released them for insurgent fighters.

Journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling were kidnapped for 140 days in 2009 for allegedly entering North Korea illegally.The US pardoned them.A diplomatic effort led by Bill Clinton helped free them.

Mexican journalist Gregorio Jiménez De La Cruz was kidnapped.He was kidnapped at his home in Veracruz in 2014. He later died. The crime happened for "personal reasons," but many think he was killed for his aggressive reporting on organized crime.Gregorio Jiménez De La Cruz was kidnapped at his home in Veracruz in 2014. He later died.

Ukrainian journalist Anhar Kochneva escaped her captors.She escaped her captors in 2013 after being held hostage for five months in Syria. The Free Syrian Army reportedly asked for $50 million for her return.In 2013, Anhar Kochneva was held hostage for five months in Syria. Members of the Free Syrian Army reportedly asked for $50 million for her return.

In 2010, South African sound engineer Nick Greyling and his team worked for M-Net television. Nigeria abducted and held them for several days. Authorities successfully negotiated their release.Nick Greyling and his colleagues negotiated their release.