Washington D.C. – News Nation, Jan.15, 2026
Dennis Coyle, a 64-year-old Colorado academic researcher, has been held captive by the Taliban in Afghanistan for 353 days after being kidnapped near his workplace last January, his family told NewsNation on Thursday.
Coyle, who spent nearly 20 years in Afghanistan conducting academic research and assisting the Afghan community, was forcibly taken from his apartment by Taliban forces. His three sisters and 83-year-old mother lost all contact with him for nine months before learning he was alive.
The family said Coyle is being held alone in a basement room somewhere in Afghanistan, where his movements are so restricted that he must seek permission to use a bathroom. Family members expressed growing concern about his mental health due to the prolonged isolation.
“With each phone call that we get from him, we get more and more desperate to get him home,” said his sister, Molly Long.
The U.S. government has declared Coyle wrongfully detained, a designation that prioritizes efforts to secure his release. Long said administration officials, including Dr. Sebastian Gorka and Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens’ deputy Adam Boehler, have assured the family that securing Coyle’s freedom is a top priority.
In recent communications, Coyle asked his family to convey a message to President Donald Trump, expressing confidence in the president’s ability to secure his release. Long noted Trump’s administration has secured the release of more than 85 hostages during his current term.
The family remained silent for months, fearing publicity might endanger Coyle further, but decided to speak out as his captivity approaches one year. They have launched a website, FreeDennisCoyle.com, to share updates and coordinate advocacy efforts.
