The president of the University of Virginia says she’s saddened to learn about the death of a student from Ohio who was recently released from North Korea in a coma.
The Latest on the death of an American college student days after he was freed from North Korea in a coma (all times local) :
6: 45 p.m.
The president of the University of Virginia says she’s saddened to learn about the death of a student from Ohio who was recently released from North Korea in a coma.
University of Virginia President Teresa A. Sullivan says her thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of 22-year-old Otto Warmbier (WORM’-bir) “during what has been an incredibly difficult time.” She says Warmbier “will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.”
One of Warmbier’s high school teachers says he “will be dearly missed.”
Warmbier was convicted of subversion in North Korea after he tearfully confessed he tried to steal a propaganda banner. He returned home to the Cincinnati area last week. His family says in a statement released by a hospital he died Monday afternoon.
Doctors say he had severe brain damage but they don’t know what caused it.
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5: 50 p.m.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich (KAY’-sihk) is mourning the death of an American college student who was released by North Korea days ago in a coma.
The Republican governor says Monday’s death of 22-year-old Otto Warmbier (WORM’-bir) underscores the “evil, oppressive” nature of the North Korean regime and its disregard for human life.
Kasich calls Warmbier a young man of exceptional spirit. The governor says Warmbier’s family showed strength and courage through a terrible ordeal.
U. S. Sen. Rob Portman says he and his wife are deeply saddened by the death of “this remarkable young Ohioan.”
The Republican senator says Warmbier was a promising young man who was kind, generous and accomplished.
Warmbier’s family says in a statement released by a hospital that he died Monday afternoon.
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4: 40 p.m.
An American college student who was released by North Korea in a coma has died in Ohio. Otto Warmbier was 22.
His family said in a statement released by a hospital that Warmbier died Monday afternoon.
The family thanked the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for treating him but said, “Unfortunately, the awful torturous mistreatment our son received at the hands of the North Koreans ensured that no other outcome was possible beyond the sad one we experienced today.
Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years in prison with hard labor in North Korea, convicted of subversion after he tearfully confessed he had tried to steal a propaganda banner.
The University of Virginia student was held for more than 17 months and medically evacuated from North Korea last week. Doctors said he returned with severe brain damage, but it wasn’t clear what caused it.
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