Investigators searching for American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared in Syria 14 years ago, have located individuals who claim to have information regarding his captivity. In a documentary podcast series titled "Where is Austin Tice?", reporters Josh Baker and Sara Obeidat met with a man who stated he interrogated Tice. The investigation also located two additional witnesses whose accounts have begun to clarify details regarding Tice's detention.
The new information follows the recent fall of the Syrian government, which allowed investigators access to previously restricted areas and records. During their search in Damascus, Baker and Obeidat reported finding a trove of material related to Tice in a hidden room accessible by crossing a five-story drop. The reporters stated they also found evidence of detention and torture within the capital city while searching locations where Tice may have been held.
The investigation has tracked Tice’s movements leading into Damascus, including a farm where he celebrated his 31st birthday and had his final conversation with his mother. While earlier reports suggested Tice was taken at a checkpoint, the investigators stated they uncovered evidence suggesting his disappearance was deliberate and centered around one specific individual. A video titled "Austin Tice Still Alive," which depicted Tice bound and blindfolded, led the reporters to investigate a trail involving Syrian leadership.
The investigation describes evidence of torture and detention found across Damascus. The reporters' ability to access government materials suggests that other foreign nationals or Syrian citizens who disappeared during the 14-year conflict may have documented histories within these facilities.
What happens next remains dependent on the continued analysis of the material recovered from the hidden room in Damascus. The investigation has moved from tracking Tice’s movements to identifying specific witnesses and interrogators. The podcast series documenting these findings published its seventh episode on September 29, 2026, with the hunt for Tice's location continuing in the wake of the regime's downfall.