{{Short description|American civil engineer and captive}} {{Use American English|date=May 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Mark Frerichs | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|7|13}} | birth_place = | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) --> | death_place = | other_names = | known_for = Kidnapped by the Haqqani network | occupation = Civil engineer | disappeared_date = {{Disappeared date and age|2020|1|31|1962|7|13}} | disappeared_place = Kabul, Afghanistan | disappeared_status = Returned to the United States in September 2022 }} '''Mark Randall Frerichs''' (born July 13, 1962)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/mark-randall-frerichs|title=Mark Randall Frerichs|website=Federal Bureau of Investigation}}</ref> is an American civil engineer and former US Navy diver<ref name="NYTRelease2022"/><ref name="ChicagoSunTimesSeptember">{{cite news |last1=Sweet |first1=Lynn |last2=Dudek |first2=Mitch |title=Sister of Lombard man freed by Taliban in hostage swap 'stunned, very happy' after 3 a.m. call from Biden |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/9/19/23360674/mark-frerichs-freed-taliban-prisoner-swap-afghanistan-joe-biden-lombard-charlene-cakora |access-date=20 September 2022 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=20 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref> who disappeared in Afghanistan in January 2020 and was later confirmed to be captured by the Haqqani network, a group closely aligned with the Taliban.<ref name=abcnews2020-05-12/><ref name=newsweek2020-02-05/><ref name=dailyherald2020-02-06/> In September 2022, Frerichs was released by the Taliban-led government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in exchange for Bashir Noorzai.
==Biography== Frerichs is a director of International Logistical Support whose work had led him to visit Afghanistan multiple times since 2012.<ref name=newsweek2020-02-05/> He served in the United States Navy as a diver.<ref name=chicagotribune2020-04-30/>
Frerichs disappeared in Kabul, Afghanistan, on January 31, 2020. The Associated Press reported that US intelligence officials tracked Frerichs's cell phone and raided a village near where he disappeared, approximately a week after his disappearance. Although they rounded up individuals from that village, the raid proved unproductive.<ref name=chicagotribune2020-04-30/> The next month, ''Newsweek'' magazine reported that officials had confirmed that Frerichs had been taken captive by the Haqqani network, a group closely aligned with the Taliban.<ref name=newsweek2020-02-05/>
Frerichs's sister, Charlene Cakora, questioned why the US government "signed a peace deal" with the Taliban in early February 2020 that did not include a provision for releasing her brother.<ref name=chicagotribune2020-04-30/> The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the lead agency of the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, issued a statement saying the cell was working to ensure "that Mark Frerichs and all Americans held hostage abroad are returned home."
On May 10, 2020, the FBI offered a $1-million reward for information that helps lead to Frerichs's release or rescue.<ref name=abcnews2020-05-12/> In addition, the Rewards for Justice Program offered a $5-million reward for information leading to his location.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rewardsforjustice.net/english/mark_frerichs.html|title=Rewards for Justice - Acts of Terror - Kidnapping of Mark Randall Frerichs}}</ref> That same day, Taliban spokesmen asserted that they had conducted an inquiry of their subordinate and associated groups and confirmed they were not holding Frerichs.<ref name=arabnews2020-05-10/>
''The New York Times'' reported Frerichs was still a captive on November 21, 2020, when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo traveled to Afghanistan to personally participate in peace negotiations with the Taliban.<ref name=nytimes2020-11-21/> They reported it was unknown whether Pompeo raised Frerichs's captivity as an issue during the talks.
On April 1, 2022, a video was released showing Frerichs pleading for help.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-new-video-shows-a-missing-american-hostage-pleading-for-help-in-taliban-custody|title = A New Video Shows a Missing American Hostage Pleading for Help in Taliban Custody|magazine = The New Yorker|date = April 2022}}</ref> Following the release of Safi Rauf, an American aid worker who was held captive by the Taliban between December 2021 and April 2022, the US State Department began an attempted inquiry into the release of Frerichs. The inquiry did not result in substantial headway in brokering Frerichs' release.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Tapper |first1=Jake |author-link=Jake Tapper |date=April 3, 2022 |title=Biden administration secures release of Afghan-American Naval reservist held by Taliban |url=https://abc7chicago.com/taliban-hostage-released-safi-rauf-biden-administration/11704288/ |access-date=May 16, 2022 |website=ABC7 Chicago |language=en}}</ref> Frerichs's family was a part of the Bring Our Families Home campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Tasha |date=2022-07-22 |title=Ottumwa native creates art to bring awareness to American hostages, detainees |url=https://ktvo.com/news/local/ottumwa-native-creates-art-to-bring-awareness-to-american-hostages-detainees |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=KTVO |language=en}}</ref>
On {{Date|2022-09-19|MDY}}, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told reporters in Kabul that his government and a US delegation swapped prisoners at the Afghan capital's airport. Frerichs was exchanged for Bashir Noorzai.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Taliban Free Last American Hostage in Afghanistan in Prisoner Swap |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/taliban-free-last-american-hostage-in-afghanistan-in-prisoner-swap/6753168.html |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=VOA |date=September 19, 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-09-19 |title=Mark Frerichs: US hostage swapped for Afghan leader linked to Taliban |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62954203 |access-date=2022-09-19}}</ref><ref name="NYTRelease2022">{{cite news |last1=Akbary |first1=Yaqoob |last2=Goldbaum |first2=Christina |title=U.S. Hostage Exchanged for Afghan Drug Lord in Prisoner Swap |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/19/world/asia/mark-frerichs-prisoner-swap-biden-taliban.html |access-date=19 September 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=19 September 2022}}</ref>
==See also== * List of kidnappings * List of solved missing person cases (2020s)
==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name=nytimes2020-11-21> {{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/21/world/middleeast/afghanistan-kabul-rocket-attack.html | title = As Pompeo Prepared to Meet Afghan Warring Parties, New Attack Struck Kabul | work = The New York Times | author1 = Thomas Gibbons-Neff | author2 = Fatima Faizi | date = November 21, 2020 | page = A18 | location = Kabul, Afghanistan | archiveurl = | archivedate = | accessdate = November 21, 2020 | quote = The Taliban is still holding the American Mark Frerichs, a former Navy diver and civil engineer who was kidnapped in Kabul and taken to Khost Province earlier this year. <!-- It was unclear if Mr. Pompeo discussed the release of Mr. Frerichs, 58, during his more than hourlong meeting with the Taliban. --> }} </ref>
<ref name=dailyherald2020-02-06> {{cite news | url = https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200206/kidnapped-contractors-lombard-dad-i-have-deep-faith-my-son-will-be-found | title = Kidnapped contractor's Lombard dad: I have deep faith my son will be found | work = Daily Herald | author1 = Susan Sarkauskas | author2 = Robert Sanchez | date = February 6, 2020 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20200207073031/https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200206/kidnapped-contractors-lombard-dad-i-have-deep-faith-my-son-will-be-found | archivedate = February 7, 2020 | accessdate = May 13, 2020 | url-status = live | quote = While no group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, U.S. officials believe the Taliban-aligned Haqqani network orchestrated the operation. }} </ref>
<ref name=arabnews2020-05-10> {{cite news | url = https://www.arabnews.com/node/1672581/world | title = Taliban: We do not have missing US contractor | work = Arab News | date = May 10, 2020 | location = Islamabad | archiveurl = | archivedate = | accessdate = May 13, 2020 | quote = Taliban leaders searched their ranks, including in the much-feared Haqqani network, and on Sunday said they are not holding Mark R. Frerichs, a Navy veteran turned contractor who disappeared in Afghanistan in late January. }} </ref>
<ref name=chicagotribune2020-04-30> {{cite news | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-illinois-hostage-afghanistan-20200430-vtbztw25hrfvlilfoiuwbi27mi-story.html | title = Navy SEALs raided Afghan village in attempt to locate Illinois man taken hostage by militants | work = Chicago Tribune | author1 = James LaPorta | author-link = James LaPorta | author2 = Eric Tucker | date = April 30, 2020 | location = Washington, DC | archiveurl = | archivedate = | accessdate = May 13, 2020 | quote = In the days following the capture of an American contractor in Afghanistan earlier this year, Navy commandos raided a village and detained suspected members of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network while the U.S. intelligence community tried to track the cellphones of the man and his captors, The Associated Press has learned. }} </ref>
<ref name=abcnews2020-05-12> {{cite news | url = https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fbi-offers-million-information-leading-taliban-hostages-captors/story?id=70642891 | title = FBI offers $1 million for information leading to former Taliban hostage's captors | work = ABC News | author1 = James Gordon Meek | author2 = Conor Finnegan | date = May 12, 2020 | archiveurl = | archivedate = | accessdate = May 13, 2020 | quote = At least two Americans remain missing in Afghanistan, including commercial contractor Mark Frerichs, who was kidnapped on Jan. 31 by the Haqqani Network, a faction of the Afghan Taliban, U.S. officials believe. }} </ref>
<ref name=newsweek2020-02-05> {{cite news | url = https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-us-citizen-kidnapped-afghanistan-1485439 | title = Exclusive: U.S. citizen kidnapped by Taliban group in Afghanistan | work = Newsweek magazine | author1 = James Laporta | author-link = James LaPorta | author2 = Tom O'Connor | author3 = Naveed Jamali | date = February 5, 2020 | archiveurl = | archivedate = | accessdate = May 13, 2020 | quote = Mark R. Frerichs of Lombard, Illinois, was kidnapped last Friday in Khost, a province located in the southeastern part of the country that borders the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, an underdeveloped region between Afghanistan and Pakistan, U.S. officials told Newsweek, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the details publicly. }} </ref> }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Frerichs, Mark}} Category:1962 births Category:2020s missing person cases Category:20th-century American engineers Category:21st-century American engineers Category:American civil engineers Category:Formerly missing American people Category:Kidnapped American people Category:Living people Category:Missing person cases in Afghanistan Category:United States Navy sailors