Biden Administration Hopes to Learn Fate of U.S. Hostage in Syria While hopes for the return of Austin Tice have faded, the top American hostage negotiator says he believes the former journalist is still alive. Marc and Debra Tice, the parents of Austin Tice, have pressed the government to help find out what happened to their son.Credit...Bilal Hussein/Associated Press April 27, 2021, 5:00 a.m. ET WASHINGTON — The Trump administration pushed hard to free Austin Tice, an American abducted in Syria in 2012. The C.I.A. formed a special cell to gather intelligence, a powerful Persian Gulf ally was enlisted to help and, among other highly unusual personal entreaties, senior officials traveled to Damascus to plead their case with Syria’s top spy.