Parents Of Missing Houston Journalist Launch Billboard Campaign

The Houston native disappeared while covering the conflict in Syria, and his parents hope to keep the pressure on the White House to make his return a priority.

Tice’s father Marc Tice says they have credible evidence their son is alive but they still don’t know who’s holding him captive. We spoke to him near one of the billboards on U.S. 59 near FM 1960.

“Unfortunately we’ve had no contact with him. We can’t be certain without knowing who has him, of much else,” says Tice. “Especially the important thing, which is what do we need to do to bring him home.”

And to do that, mother Debra Tice says there needs to be strong diplomatic efforts.

“So we call on the United States government and the Syrian government to do all they can, to use all their resources, to find Austin and return him safely home,” she says.

Private donations are paying for four billboards that are going up around greater Houston. The Tices are also circulating an online petition addressed to President Obama.