Nationality American Occupation Municipal worker | Name Jeffrey Fowle | |
American captive: 'I'm getting desperate'
Jeffrey Edward Fowle (born c. 1958) is an American citizen arrested in North Korea in May 2014 for leaving a Bible in a club in the northern port city of Chongjin.
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Personal information
Fowle is from Miamisburg, Ohio, and worked in the Moraine, Ohio municipal street department. His wife, Tatyana was born in Russia, and they have three children.
Arrest
In May 2014, Fowle was arrested in North Korea after authorities discovered a Bible he had deliberately left behind in the restaurant toilet at the Chongjin Sailor's Club. Religious proselytism is a crime in North Korea. At the time, Fowle was one of three incarcerated Americans in North Korea and they were individually granted interviews continually pleading for help. September 1, 2014 was the first time these captives were allowed to interview together with two American news stations, CNN and The Associated Press.
Release
On October 21, 2014, Fowle was released and flown out of North Korea on a U.S. government jet. Sweden facilitated Fowle's release as United States and North Korea do not have formal diplomatic relations.