The American student held captive in North Korea has died less than a week after his return to the U.S., according to his family.
Otto Warmbier was held in captivity in the isolated authoritarian regime for more than 17 months after allegedly trying to take a poster.
North Korea said that the 22-year-old student at University of Virginia student had contracted botulism, though he was in a coma when he returned to his home state of Ohio and had severe brain damage.
“It is our sad duty to rpeort that our son, Otto Warmbier, has completed his journey home. Surrounded by his loving family, Otto died today at 2:20 p.m.,” his family said in a statement to WCPO.
