FBI releases age-progressed photo of missing American journalist Austin Tice

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The FBI released an age-progressed photo Friday showing what Austin Tice, an American journalist who disappeared in Syria in 2012, might look like in his 40s.

The renewed effort comes in light of the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, as officials intensify their push to locate and bring Tice home.

"Given recent events in Syria, the FBI is renewing our call for information that could lead to the safe location, recovery, and return of Austin Bennett Tice, who was detained in Damascus in August 2012," FBI said in a statement, posting Tice's age-processed photo on X.

"The FBI and our government partners remain committed to bringing Austin home to his family, and we are still offering a reward of up to $1 million for information that leads to Austin’s safe return," it added.

Austin Tice, a freelance journalist for outlets including McClatchy, CBS and The Washington Post, disappeared Aug. 14, 2012, shortly after his 31st birthday. He was reportedly stopped at a checkpoint in a Damascus suburb while reporting on Syria’s civil war.

A video released weeks after his disappearance showed Tice blindfolded and held by armed men. He has yet to be released and returned to his hometown of Houston, Texas.

His mother said last week that her son is alive, citing a source vetted by the US government.