Missouri Man Found in Syria After He Was Reportedly Imprisoned for Months

A Missouri man’s spiritual journey to Syria appears to have taken an unexpected turn, leading to months of imprisonment and a dramatic release amid political upheaval.

At a Glance

A man who has identified himself as Travis Timmerman, 29, from Missouri, was found in Syria after being imprisoned for months.
He says he illegally entered Syria from Lebanon on a Christian pilgrimage.
Timmerman also says he spent about seven months in a Damascus prison.
He appears to have been freed following the toppling of President Bashar Assad’s regime.
The U.S. State Department is aware and seeking to provide support.

American’s Pilgrimage Leads to Syrian Prison

A man identifying himself as Travis Timmerman, a 29-year-old from Missouri, has been found in Syria after disappearing from Budapest on May 28. The young American’s spiritual journey reportedly took a perilous turn when he illegally crossed into Syria from Lebanon on what he described as a Christian pilgrimage. This decision, he says, led to his imprisonment in Damascus for approximately seven months.

Timmerman’s unexpected reappearance came amid the chaos following the toppling of President Bashar Assad’s regime. He was discovered barefoot and cold but in good health on a main road in Al-Thihabiyeh, east of Damascus. Initially, local residents and journalists mistook him for Austin Tice, an American journalist who has been missing in Syria for over a decade.

Travis Timmerman, a 29-year-old American, was released from a Syrian prison this week after being held for seven months. He was last seen in Hungary before being found barefoot in a Damascus suburb. Timmerman had crossed into Syria illegally while on a Christian pilgrimage. pic.twitter.com/7FG987NVEa

— 1440 (@Join1440) December 13, 2024

Imprisonment Experience and Release

Despite the gravity of his situation, Timmerman described his prison experience as not “too bad.” He reported receiving food and water regularly and being allowed bathroom access three times a day. However, his account also shed light on the darker aspects of Syrian detention.

“The guards treated me decently,” Timmerman told reporters, but added that he could hear other people being tortured on a regular basis. He described having access to food and water but only having three trips to the bathroom per day.

His release came unexpectedly, as he recounted to CBS News: “My door was busted down. It woke me up.” He went on to say, referring to how he was freed, “I thought the guards were still there, so I thought the warfare could have been more active than it ended up being. … Once we got out, there was no resistance; there was no real fighting.”

Ongoing Developments and Concerns

The U.S. State Department has acknowledged awareness of Timmerman’s situation and is working to provide support. However, the political landscape in Syria remains volatile. The rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) claims control of Damascus but faces significant challenges in establishing stability.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is promoting an “inclusive, Syrian-led” government transition in Damascus, highlighting the complex international dynamics at play. As for Timmerman, he reportedly plans to travel to Jordan before returning to Damascus, intending to contact his family.