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Staying with the story
The Dayton Daily News has reported on North Korea’s detainment of West Carrollton resident Jeffrey Fowle for nearly six months, providing breaking news updates and in-depth reports of his plight.
COMING SUNDAY
A deeper look into the reasons for Jeffrey Fowle’s release.
Jeffrey Fowle’s return to normalcy after being captive in North Korea for more than five months is expected to be a challenge in overcoming the trauma brought on by isolation and an uncertain future, observers say.
While his attorney said the 56-year-old West Carrollton man was “treated well” as one of three U.S. detainees in that country, the extended time spent secluded as he anticipated facing trial takes its toll, a local mental health professional said.
The biggest challenge Fowle — who returned home Wednesday, fewer than 24 hours after his surprise release — is expected to face is readjusting and reconnecting with those familiar to him, said Ronald Wean, account manager/counselor for Miami Valley Hospital.
“I think when you’re dealing with a trauma of being held by yourself — held alone and not knowing your own destiny — I think the brain adjusts to survival mentality,” Wean said.
“And I think the biggest transition will be from going from survival mentality to civilian life again and reconnecting with people, because he hasn’t seen anybody for six months. All of the support systems and everybody else have been gone.”
Fowle was detained by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in early May after being charged with leaving a Bible in a public place, which is considered a crime in that country. His captivity began about a week he arrived.
In his detainment, the Beavercreek High School graduate and former Moraine city worker was given three meals a day, but spent much of his time – 20 hours or more each day – locked alone in a room, said attorney Tim Tepe, the family’s spokesman. He said Fowle never met Kenneth Bae or Matthew Miller, the other U.S. detainees, who are serving 15-year and six-year prison terms, respectively.
Tepe said he did not know if Fowle was allowed time outdoors.
Given his ordeal, Fowle likely experienced issues that he will need to sort through, said former U.S. Rep. Tony Hall, who has had extensive stays overseas and sought Fowle’s release.
“I think that he is going to really need to be given some space,” Hall said. “I can’t imagine what it is to be detained like he has been: not knowing what’s going to happen to him, thinking that there’s a very good chance that he’s going to jail for five to 10 years – or at least he’s going to get sentenced to jail. And now all of sudden, he wakes up and he’s on a plane to Guam and he’s home and it’s over. This nightmare that he’s gone through is over.
“It’s got to be a shock,” he added. “I suspect he’s going to need a lot of time a lot of space. People are going to have to be patient with him. He’s going to have to be patient. And I imagine there’s going to be a lot of anxiety there. And a lot of culture shock.”
People who have been through what Fowle has endured commonly – upon their return - find themselves startled by ordinary actions because they trigger memories of bad experiences during captivity, Wean said.
“That’s normal, natural reactions to what he’s been through” so long as the triggers dissipate in a reasonable amount of time, he said.
Fowle intends to spend time with his family — his wife, Tatyana, and their three children: Alex, Chris and Stephanie — and at his farm on Soldiers Home Road as part of the readjustment. On Thursday morning, he took the children to school, Tepe said.
“There’s lots of things to be done at the farm that basically have set idle for six months,” Tepe said. “Lots of physical stuff to be done – yard work, things like that. Eating American food again. Catching up on current events – other than Jeff.
“While he was there he was basically blacked out of all news for the past six months,” he added. “I think catching up with his friends from church, which we expect on Sunday … There are a lot of stuff that we take for granted in everyday life that he hasn’t been able to do for six months, and now he’s given the opportunity to do them.”
In time, he plans to return to work for the city of Moraine, where city officials said his former position is available. Fowle was employed by Moraine for more than 26 years before being terminated in September after his leave was exhausted. The severance included the caveat that he could be reinstated.
On Sunday, Fowle’s Lebanon church, Urbancrest Baptist Church, is planning celebrations following morning services in honor of his return, as it “has such an interest in this outcome,” Tepe said.
Fowle’s faith may be a key factor in his ability to readjust after his captivity, Wean said.
“My guess is that he used his spirituality to come through this,” he said, “and will probably continue to use his spirituality to continue his healing.”
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