Page 3 - Mark Thundercloud News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

The fbi is here for you. >> what was it like to know the fbi is paying attention to this? >> it's really real now. this is the real thing. >> we never know how families are going to react, obviously. but almost in every case they're in a state of crisis. >> reporter: mark thundercloud was the leader of a special fbi hostage negotiating unit, formed precisely for an emergency like this. more than a dozen agents descended on the lunsmann house, covered the windows, set up a surveillance system in heiko's kitchen, and got ready for what they knew was coming, a demand for ransom. >> he's negotiati...

Abu sayyaf had taken american hostages before. some were released eventually. but some were beheaded. heiko was frantic, had no idea what to do, where to turn. and then, that very day, the cavalry came riding in. >> my boss from work called. come on over to work. the fbi is here for you. >> what was it like to know the fbi is paying attention to this? >> it's really real now. this is the real thing. >> we never know how families are going to react, obviously. but almost in every case they're in a state of crisis. >> reporter: mark thundercloud was the leader of a special fbi hostage negotiatin...

Come home, i'm ready. but i want you to let these two boys -- guide them out of that jungle. it's in your hand now." >> reporter: they put gerfa on a boat. put a bag over her body. but to her complete surprise, they didn't kill her. instead they dropped her off on a footbridge near a village and told her they'd be in touch soon. >> they started to disappear in the dark ocean. and i knew right then that my connection to kevin is gone. it was worse than being in prison. there was no freedom for me. >> reporter: she got in touch with the philippine military, was evacuated to manila, the philippin...

>> their intent was to let her go to help raise more money. now she's out. and now she's got to talk to these people. >> right. >> someone needs to be there with her. >> reporter: heiko decided he should stay in lynchburg, try to find the money, and mark thundercloud moved his operations from the family's kitchen to a hotel room in manila. and there, as one month passed, then another, they tried to help gerfa deal with mr. so. >> december 6th was the last day that we talked with mr. so. basically, he was saying, "look, what you're offering is not enough. this might be the last communication th...

Came riding in. my boss called come into work, the fbi is here. >> what was it like, the fbi is paying a visit? >> this is really real. this is the real thing. >> we never know how families are going to react, obviously, but almost in every case they're in a state of crisis. >> mark thunder cloud was part of an fbi investigating unit. more than a dozen agents descended on the house, covered the windows, set up a surveillance system in haiko's kitchen. they knew a demand for ransom was coming. >> he's negotiating with someone who's selling his family. >> the fbi told me that my wife and my son ...