The family of retired FBI agent Robert Levinson told 海角精品黑料 that they think he died in Iranian custody.
In a statement on the , the family said, “We recently received information from U.S. officials that has led both them and us to conclude that our wonderful husband and father died while in Iranian custody. We don鈥檛 know when or how he died, only that it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.鈥�
The circumstances and timing of Levinson鈥檚 death was unclear, but White House National Security Adviser Robert O鈥橞rien said Wednesday evening that the U.S. believes Levinson 鈥渕ay have passed away some time ago,鈥� The Associated Press reported.
The government鈥檚 acknowledgment of Levinson鈥檚 death came hours after a White House briefing in which President Donald Trump said, 鈥淚 won鈥檛 accept that he鈥檚 dead.鈥�
Levinson had been missing for 13 years, disappearing from Iran鈥檚 Kish Island, leaving his luggage in his hotel room March 9, 2007. He was allegedly on an unauthorized CIA mission in Iran.
On Nov. 11, 2019, President Donald Trump’s administration announced a $20 million reward for information leading to the safe location, recovery and return of Levinson. Together with the $5 million reward offered by the FBI, it was a total reward of $25 million.
The family said back in November, 鈥淭his sends a clear message from our government of how important it is that Bob Levinson be returned to his family and friends who love him. All the Iranian authorities need to do is send him home.鈥�
His daughter, Sarah Levinson Moriarty, told 海角精品黑料 last November, 鈥淭o this day, we still continue to receive reports from sources that are tips to our email and our Facebook page, with observations that he is alive still.鈥�
Trump, alluding to the poor diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iran,, 鈥淚f Iran is able to turn over to the U.S. kidnapped former FBI agent Robert A Levinson, who has been missing in Iran for 12 years, it would be a very positive step.鈥�
Levinson worked as a private investigator following his retirement from the FBI in 1998.
He traveled to Kish Island, Iran, on March 8, 2007. His whereabouts, well-being and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance have been in question ever since.
“It is impossible to describe our pain. Our family will spend the rest of our lives without the most amazing man we have ever known, a new reality that is inconceivable to us. His grandchildren will never meet him. They will only know him through the stories we tell them,” .
The family sued Iran in U.S. Federal Court over his disappearance. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly ruled in their favor on March 9, 2020, the 13th anniversary of his disappearance.
鈥淭his case, brought by Levinson鈥檚 family against the Islamic Republic of Iran for his hostage taking and torture under the terrorism exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, is largely about whether it was the Iranian regime that committed these barbarous acts,鈥� Kelly said in his ruling. 鈥淭he Court finds, in no uncertain terms, that it was.鈥�
Levinson turned 72 on March 10.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
