Family states that remains found in Syria do not belong to Austin Tice

The family of Austin Tice, a journalist and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, has dismissed reports claiming that his body has been discovered after being missing in Syria for over 12 years.

These reports first surfaced in local media and briefly appeared on FoxNews.com last Sunday. While a search effort led by Qatar to locate individuals previously held captive by ISIS has uncovered remains in Syria, there is no substantiated proof linking any of these remains to Tice. Those closely acquainted with his situation assert that he was not held by ISIS and was not present in the area where the remains were found. In December, his family stated that they have compelling grounds to believe that he is still alive.

“We acknowledge and support any ongoing efforts to assist the families of ISIS victims in finding solace,” mentioned a spokesperson for the Tice family. “Nevertheless, a premature and incorrect statement suggesting that Austin Tice had been positively identified among the recovered remains was swiftly and definitively refuted.”

Tice, 43, who was a freelancer photographer and journalist, was kidnapped in Damascus in August of 2012. A former captain in the Marines who served in Afghanistan, he had gone to Syria as an independent journalist in May 2012, before his final year at Georgetown Law School. No group has taken credit for his abduction.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to Tice’s safe return.