Where is Austin Tice?: We believe he’s alive
Summary
BBC investigative journalists Josh Baker and Sara Obidat trace the fate of American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared in Syria in 2012. The episode follows their journey from meeting Tice’s mother, Deborah, in Washington to entering a lawless Syria immediately after the fall of the Assad regime. Armed with a secret folder containing GPS coordinates of suspected detention sites, the team searches notorious intelligence facilities for evidence of Tice’s survival, uncovering a complex web of power struggles and hidden documents that have kept his case unresolved for over a decade.
Topics discussed
Introduction and series announcement
Background on Austin Tice's disappearance
Searching Syrian intelligence facilities
Unlocking a safe with found keys
Meeting Deborah Tice at the 12th anniversary event
Deborah Tice's personal story and Austin's life
The last contact and the search begins
Josh Baker's investigation and initial leads
Meeting Sara Obidat and Syrian contact Salam
Salam's testimony on Austin's potential survival
The mystery of Austin's fate and covert power struggles
Rebel offensive and fall of the Assad regime
Deborah Tice's press conference and new evidence
Assad's fall and US government response
Entering Syria and navigating the chaos
Receiving GPS coordinates for Austin's locations
Credits and production team
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