Ryan Corbett released after nearly 900 days in Taliban captivity

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A Louisville-connected man, Ryan Corbett, is returning home after being wrongfully detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan for nearly two-and-a-half years. His release marks the end of an ordeal that lasted 894 days in captivity, living in harsh conditions within a 9-by-9-foot cell.

Corbett’s release came as part of a prisoner exchange. According to the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry, Corbett and another hostage were exchanged for a prisoner serving two life sentences in California on drug trafficking and terrorism charges.

Liz Cathcart, executive director of Hostage US, a nonprofit organization supporting families of hostages, explains that while Corbett’s return is a moment of celebration, his journey to recovery is just beginning.

“You have to start thinking about all of the practical challenges that you as a family would face if your dad, your sister or your child was just plucked off the face of the earth for upwards of two years,” Cathcart said.

Hostage US provides a range of support services, from financial assistance to counseling and coping strategies, helping families navigate the emotional and logistical challenges of captivity.

“Imagine that your loved one is just gone for two and a half years, and you have to pick up the pieces while continuing your normal life and sometimes keeping another full-time job of advocating for your loved one’s freedom,” Cathcart added.

Corbett’s wife, Anna, exemplifies the relentless advocacy required in such cases. She made 16 trips to Washington, D.C., in efforts to meet with President Biden and even traveled to Mar-a-Lago to seek a meeting with former President Trump earlier this year.

"It's not only stressful. It's near impossible and these families really do just remarkable jobs of pulling together all the support that they can to get their loved ones home," Cathcart said.

Corbett is currently making a stop at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. This facility provides critical care for wrongfully detained and imprisoned Americans, focusing on thorough medical evaluations.

“You make sure that your vitamin levels are okay,” Cathcart explained. “You make sure that you've had your dental checked because you haven’t been able to brush your teeth for two and a half years. You get your eyes checked because your glasses were broke when you were initially taken. These things that are so basic to you and me are really life-changing and really do make the difference between a healthy recovery or not.”

Although Ryan Corbett is on his way home, his transition to normal life will require significant support and time. His story highlights the ongoing challenges faced by many families dealing with wrongful detentions and the resilience required to secure freedom.

His family asked for privacy during this time but released a statement.

“Our hearts are filled with overwhelming gratitude and praise to God for sustaining Ryan’s life and bringing him back home after what has been the most challenging and uncertain 894 days of our lives,” the family's statement said. They thanked both Trump and Biden, as well as many government officials, for their efforts in freeing him.

Corbett's parents live in the Louisville area and have been pushing Kentucky lawmakers for help in getting their son home.

In a statement Tuesday, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, celebrated Corbett's release and commended his wife, Anna, for her tireless fight to get her husband home.

"After 894 harrowing days of wrongful detention by the Taliban, Ryan Corbett is finally coming home to his family. I commend all those involved in securing Ryan's release, especially Ryan's wife Anna, who tirelessly fought for her husband's freedom up until this long-awaited moment. I worked closely with Anna, their three children, and Ryan's parents, Drue and Evelyn of Louisville, Kentucky, as they endured two long years of missed holidays, graduations, and family milestones," McConnell said in a statement. "While the Corbett family can rest easier today, we must continue to stand for the release of all Americans unjustly imprisoned in Afghanistan. Without restoring deterrence and raising the stakes of hostage-taking, innocent Americans will continue to be used as bargaining chips by adversary nations around the world."

Kentucky Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Kentucky, also worked closely with the Corbett family on Ryan's release.

"Ryan Corbett is finally coming home thanks to the diplomatic efforts of President Biden, Rep. Claudia Tenney and so many others, as well as the tireless work of Ryan's family, including his father Drue, who first contacted my office nearly a year ago. Today is a day for celebration — and a moment to recommit to the power of diplomacy and peacebuilding at home and abroad," McGarvey said in statement. "My heart is with Ryan and his loved ones as they begin to heal."

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