Transcripts For KNTV Dateline NBC 20180131

A lot of people were praying for them. A lot of people were. Im lester holt, and this is dateline. Heres Keith Morrison with heart of darkness. Reporter they lay in wait, unseen under a thick green canopy, armed to the teeth. Immersed in their defiant extremist belief, hunting, stalking, deadly, in this particular heart of darkness. It was the summer of 2011, a jungleclad island in the southern tip of the philippines where they prepared the place. And the news of the terrible deed committed here flashed halfway around the world and came crashing down, out of nowhere, on a modest workingclass family in lynchburg, virginia. I got a phone call from my mother. The first thing she said was gerfa and kevin were kidnapped in the philippines. Reporter kidnapped . Sherry hutter tried to wrap her head around the inconceivable. Gerfa was her aunt. Kevin, gerfas 14yearold son. They were due home from a philippine vacation. Instead, they were in the clutches of something horrific. I felt like i was in a dream like it wasnt real. And i just was thinking, what . Reporter gerfas husband, Heiko Lunsmann, had stayed behind in lynchburg and was at work when he heard. You must have been terrified. Yes. It was impossible to think about it. But pictures dont lie. Reporter they didnt. There they were, on philippine television. Incomprehensible images, gerfas and kevins passports, their halfpacked suitcases. The stricken relatives theyd been visiting on tictabon, a small island at the tip of the southern philippines. Gerfa, kevin and one of gerfas young cousins, said the news reports, kidnapped by boat in the dead of night. I was thinking, no, that doesnt happen to us well, nobody thinks its going to happen to us, right . Yeah. But my wifes heart is in the philippines. Thats her family. Reporter gerfa was born in the philippines, had always felt safe there. Her older sister married a u. S. Navy sailor and moved to america in 1985. Brought then 16yearold gerfa with her, hoping to give her a chance at a better life. She was so excited about the opportunity. I remember she worked at Little Caesars pizza and that was the greatest thing, to get a job. Reporter she had a son, josh, went back to Community College to improve herself. And there she met a german immigrant named heiko. And from then on that was it. They were a family. She became a lab technician, heiko a maintenance man. They bought a house in a leafy neighborhood of lynchburg, virginia and had kevin. And the immigrants son became an allamerican kid. He was 14 that summer of 2011. Smart, studious, and looking forward to the start of high school in the fall. Hes this normal american kid who likes pizza and hot dogs and burgers, hang out with his friends, play video games, ride on his skateboard. Reporter they lived frugally, saved their money. Which is how eventually heiko could afford his used mercedes sports car and gerfa and kevin that vacation trip to the philippines. Life was good. But now it was very bad indeed. When i first heard they were kidnapped, the first thing that came to my mind was oh, my gosh, its abu sayyaf. Reporter abu sayyaf, a small but extremely violent militant group. Over the years it claimed affiliation first with al qaeda, then isis, as it fought to establish an independent Islamic State in the southern philippines. Its bread and butter in its fight against the government . Kidnap for ransom. 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 . Its really real now. This is the real thing. We never know how families are going to react, obviously. But almost in every case theyre 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 heikos kitchen, and got ready for what they knew was coming, a demand for ransom. Hes negotiating really with someone whos selling his family. The fbi told me that my wife and son are merchandise for them. Thats kind of hard to hear. Yes. We try to be very transparent with the families in these cases. We try to prepare them as best as we can. Did you prepare heiko for the possibility they would be executed . Yeah, we prepared him for the worst. Reporter now there was nothing else to do, except wait. And then [ phone ringing ] the phone rang. Hello. Hello. Yes . This is Long Distance from philippines. Is this mr. Heiko lunsmann . A terrorist on the line. When we come back, the lifeanddeath negotiations begin. We need 10 million u. S. Dollars for the release of your family. 10 million, from me . Are you losing your mind . Dad, we need you to send the money. Im getting worried. Im getting so worried. Is this mr. Heiko lunsmann . Yes, thats me. Oh, okay. We would like to inform you that your family here with us in our custody. Reporter two days after his wife and child were kidnapped by abu sayyaf in the philippines, Heiko Lunsmann got his first ransom call. On the phone, a man who called himself mr. So. He called me mr. Lunsmann. I wanted to know what i can call you. I dont want to call you kidnapper, terrorist. Just give me a name. Reporter mr. So was calm, businesslike, like hed done it 100 times before. In fact, he was the voice for a violent separatist group known for executing prisoners, beheadings usually. We would like to tell you that we need 10 million u. S. Dollars for the release of your family. Can you hear me . And i just was thinking, are you losing your mind . Who do you think youve got . Just couldnt believe it. 10 million. From me. Reporter why would they think heiko had 10 million . Perhaps theyd watched the internet. In lynchburg the kidnapping was big news. Tv crews set up shop across the street and captured heiko driving his used mercedes coupe. There you were in your fancy car. Yes. You must be worth millions. That was a wrong, wrong impression. Im not a rich person, but i will give whatever i can get together. Okay . We need 10 million u. S. Dollars for the release of your family. Okay . Reporter heiko was lucky in this. When mr. So made his demands, some of the most experienced fbi hostage negotiators in the country were right there, listening in. Ready to point out the right way for heiko to respond. Literally. These are for general visual prompts that we want heiko to think about. We have all the questions related to kevin and gerfa that we think are important for heiko to consider. And while were doing them were going to write notes down and pass them to heiko. He would read it and hopefully introduce it to the conversation. Wheres my wife . Can i talk to her . If shes okay . Wheres my son . Yeah, no, uh, your son is she with you . Can i talk to them . I want to know if theyre okay. Reporter mr. So didnt say. Meanwhile, fbi agents in the philippines were working sources on the ground. Word was that gerfa and kevin had been taken to one of abu sayyafs strongholds basilan, a large island about four hours by boat from where theyd been kidnapped. To a base camp deep in what was nearly impenetrable jungle. We travelled to basilan to talk with the politicians there, who may have had some influence over this group. Reporter heiko had the fbi to help. But government money . No. They dont pay ransom. The government doesnt pay ransoms. Right. Any decisions that are made regarding ransoms are really made by the family. But it was actually to me no choice. I know i want to pay something. Just to make sure theyre safe. Reporter the week after the kidnapping heiko wired a ransom payment, close to 5,000, to a bank account in the philippines. I was thinking, pay them money and its over. But they started wanting more and more and more. Reporter more weeks went by. Mr. So reduced his demands from 10 million to 2 million. Then 1 million. Still impossible, of course. So the kidnappers turned up the heat. They put kevin on the line. Dad yeah. How are you doing over there . Are you there . We need you to send the money. I know that, and im ready, but all i have over here i will send, and they know it. Dad dad, just send the money. Thats all they want. Reporter heiko maxed out his credit cards, borrowed money from whomever he could. But it never seemed to be enough. As the incident grows from weeks into months, we end up with so many boards that we have to work our way down this hallway. Reporter Daniel Girsch was one of the hostage negotiators assigned to guide heiko. And it gets to the point where we dont think that were making progress. Heiko feels like were not making progress. I just think you just hope. Thats all what you have, hope. Reporter but hope was hard to hang on to. The kidnappers kept threatening beheadings. Even worse, they put gerfa on the phone and beat her while she talked to heiko. Sweetheart, what are you doing over there . I know, honey. Im just so just tell them i dont have a million. Please do that. I want this to stop. I know, i told them that you dont have anything but they just like asking. How are you doing, gerfa . Stop that [ crying ] i am getting worried, im getting so worried. Reporter a few seconds later the line went dead. Oh my god [ bleep ], im smoking, i got have a [ bleep ] cigarette, or im gonna [ bleep ] heiko, heiko you need to be ready. Your frustration must be pretty frustration was immense. If hes not calm, then our hostage takers arent going to be calm. So oftentimes i would have to tell heiko to, you know, be quiet, let the hostage taker speak and then we would have a chance to respond. Reporter and then what . How long before they tired of the game and killed the two great loves of his life . Ive worked these cases that will last years instead of months. And i was thinking, no, im not making it for years. I mean, there is no way. Reporter heiko didnt have to wait that long. Three months after gerfa and kevin were taken, there was a very different phone call. And for heiko it was terrifying. Coming up she called me really, really sad and crying. I felt her dark place, being a mother myself. And it was awful. When dateline continues. Reporter it had been three months since an islamic Paramilitary Group had kidnapped Heiko Lunsmanns wife and son. Hed already sent the kidnappers more than 20,000. A fortune for him. And then the phone rang again. And it wasnt mr. So. Instead well. Even veteran fbi agent dan girsch was astonished. We received the tremendous news that gerfa was released. Obviously, heikos very excited. I could see and hear just joy. Joy. Reporter heiko could scarcely believe it. As the news flashed across the philippines and to lynchburg, virginia. His wife, gerfa, was alive. And free. And safe. So, inexpressible joy. And then gerfa called him. And heiko realized the nightmare was just beginning. She called me really, really sad and crying. So my first question to her was wheres kevin . Reporter he could hear the terror in her voice. Abu sayyaf still had kevin and her cousin. They could kill them at any time they wanted. And i felt her dark place, just being a mother myself. And it was awful. Reporter and before long her terror deepened. When she learned her cousin got out, too. Which meant that there in that awful place her 14yearold son, no one left to protect him, was all alone. I remember seeing that picture of her that was in the news. And she just looked so sad. Like she just looked so sad and helpless. Reporter this is gerfa. And here, even five years later, the memory is brutal. We brought her back here to the philippines and asked her to tell us her story. The story that began at 2 00 in the morning, at the end of a happy family reunion, on a beach just about like this one. It does take you back. You know, you can hear the water, the waves. You can feel the wind. You see the evening sky. The stars. It was a beautiful thing. It was a beautiful morning. Yeah. Suddenly i saw from the left side two men running really fast, like, on the sand with some kind of rifle. My first impression, it was some kind of robbery. I screamed for help. I was terrified. I never screamed that loud in my life. Reporter gerfa rushed back to her hut and grabbed kevin. Together they ran toward the beach. But they didnt get far. In an instant they were surrounded by several armed men in military fatigues. Kevin was looking at me. He was in front of me. And when suddenly someone kick him from behind. That violence right there they were rough right away. Its like, why did they why did they kick my son . Reporter a motor boat suddenly appeared. The men pushed kevin and gerfa into it. Shocked and frightened, gerfa looked up to see her cousin, not quite 22 years old and the father of a newborn, holding on to the boat, trying to prevent it from leaving. He didnt care about his safety. He didnt care about his life. And he was begging him to let him in. He said, this is my family, i want to be with them. My fate will be the same. Reporter so they took her cousin too. Gerfa watched the shore disappear into the darkness. In a matter of a moment you went from a feeling of incredible peace to the Worst Nightmare you could ever imagine. Chaos. Complete chaos. And you try to control yourself, trying to stay calm. And how do you do that . Reporter it was early morning, right after sunrise, when they arrived at an island. They were made to sit hidden in the mangroves. Take me, gerfa pleaded with the kidnappers, let the boys go. But in response, one of the men raised his machete. He looked at me and he said, did you want me to cut your sons your infidel sons head . Behead him. Behead him. I knew right then it was religious. Yeah, these guys are fanatics i knew it was more serious. This is more hostile. You could see the hatred in their eyes . Ive never seen so much hate. Reporter gerfa had heard about abu sayyaf and their kidnappings. But she never thought for a moment that she could be a target. We sat there just shaking. And i couldnt stop it. The fear of death is so strong. We were surrounded by these armed men. There was no rescue, there was no sign of rescue. We were on our own. Reporter night came. They were prodded at gunpoint to their feet and into the jungle. And its own particular darkness. I constantly followed kevin. The minute hes like three feet away from me hes gone. Its like hes gone in the dark. Reporter and then a light, just a flash really, a car in the distance. The kidnappers seemed terrified by it and gerfa was gripped by a fear more terrible than any in her life. Immediately someone stood really close to kevin. And i saw that silver rifle, the tip of it just went close to his forehead. And at that point i just realized, i was like, oh my gosh, i might lose my son that night. Coming up were you ready to die . I was ready. I said, lord, thank you for the beautiful family you gave me. I said, if you want me to come home, im ready. So you spent all your money on holiday gifts. Bitcoins are about to go bust. Which means like most people this time of year, youre broke. Introducing value jacks way. Five great ways to save, including four Crispy Chicken nuggets for 1, jacks oneofakind breakfast pockets for 2 each, three of my famous tacos and a small drink for 3, two breakfast croissants for 4, or the bonus jack combo, now just 5. Its like i tell jack jr. , its all about big value, jr. Prices. Thats value jacks way. Reporter in the dark of a philippine jungle, surrounded by men with hate in their eyes, Gerfa Lunsmann looked, terrified, at her 14yearold son. An approaching car had put the kidnappers on alert. And now one of them held an automatic rifle to kevins head. I just said, dont move, son while my entire body was frozen. Reporter and then the car passed. And they kept walking. And several hours later they arrived at abu sayyafs base camp. And this is where they were brought to a cage in the jungle. Not this cage, we actually built this one, but to the exact specifications given to us by gerfa. Five feet by five feet, some old broken boards for a floor, jungle sticks lashed together with bark. No roof, no protection from the elements. But a cage as secure as any cage in any prison. There were guard tents on either side of the cage. A sniper on a hill above, watching them. And right beside the cage, a seemingly bottomless cliff, planted with land mines, said their captors. I know you had been walking for, like, 36 hours or something. How did you feel . Well, exhausted. Physically, spiritually, mentally and then they present you with this. Exhausted. And you see this piece of crap. And this guy told us, get in. And you want to resist. You want to fight it. Because you know youre not an animal. Reporter this is gerfas cousin. The young man who forced the kidnappers to take him so he could protect her and kevin. He takes the shorter place here. I would sleep here, and kevin will take the longest area of the cage because hes taller. We cannot move. We take one spot, and thats it. Reporter they sat in silence, forbidden to speak. They were, bit by bit, starved. Fed a little rice and dried fish a single plate per day to share. Then one night, about a week after theyd been taken hostage, the groups leader told gerfa about the price abu sayyaf had put on her head. That 10 million they demanded from heiko. I felt my whole body just collapsed. I knew if i cannot convince him that i dont have that money, i will never see my family again. So i looked up toward heaven. And there was this one star just blinking. I pointed at the star, this one star up in the sky. And i told them to if they can get that star, my husband can give them 10 million. Reporter gerfa knew heiko would have sent all the money they had, even as the kidnappers squeezed him by putting his terrified son on the phone. Dad just send the money. Thats all they want. Reporter heiko didnt realize that the kidnappers were beating kevin as he spoke. Gerfa was forced to watch. Helpless, full of rage. He get hurt from head to toes. Even though he fell on the ground, they continued to they kept kicking him. Abuse him. But all he was doing was just listening to his dad. Because that was the safety zone. Reporter gerfas cousin threw himself on kevin, tried to shield him. [ speaking Foreign Language ] what i want is to hug kevin, protect him, and i want to take the beating. But they tried to keep me away from kevin. I cannot fight back. Reporter when it was over, kevin and gerfa were forced back into the cage, battered and horrified. And there was her cousin, lying in the corner, crying. So we were just, like, rubbing his back, trying to console him. Because it was just the three of us. No one care about our feelings. How hurt we are. The world was not there for us. No one was there. Reporter and if no one was coming to rescue them, well, then they had no choice. They had to try to escape, come what may, down that cliff. And then, two months into their captivity, the moment came. Gunfire pierced the silence. The kidnappers grabbed their weapons and ran toward the front of the camp. And the captives, impulse in unison, squeezed through the cage and slid off the edge of the cliff. There was no time to think what happened, no, we got to go now. Down a slope like that. Yeah. Were trying to get head first. Yes. Head first, holding onto the roots and the bushes. Reporter but then they heard a shout. One of their kidnappers had seen them. He was screaming, theyre escaping. Theyre escaping. Theyre getting away. By the time i look again they all line up. Its like really i cannot believe they caught us. We march back into that cage. That tiny little cage. Which must have felt like a tomb to you. We know were going to die in that cage. Reporter but their captors were on edge. For a reason. This is nbc news footage of military exercises on the coast of basilan that september of 2011, about two months into gerfas ordeal. The philippine military, supported by american advisers, was launching an offensive against abu sayyaf. Which, in turn, became so nervous they decided to move kevin, gerfa and her cousin out of that cage and into a windowless room in a farmhouse about a days hike away. And then, one of them pulled gerfa from their cell. They were taking her away. And at that point i was like, oh my god, theyre going to separate me from my son. Reporter they told her she would be back the next day. But she was convinced her time was up. That she was about to be executed. Were you ready to die . I was ready. I said, lord, thank you for the beautiful family you gave me. And i said, if you want me to come home, im ready. But i want you to let these two boys guide them out of that jungle. Its in your hand now. Reporter they put gerfa on a boat. Put a bag over her body. But to her complete surprise, they didnt kill her. Instead they dropped her off on a footbridge near a village and told her theyd 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 philippines capital. Back in lynchburg, lead fbi negotiator mark thundercloud thought he knew why the kidnappers released gerfa. Their intent was to let her go to help raise more money. Now shes out. And now shes 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 familys 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 youre offering is not enough. This might be the last communication that we ever have. We still expected calls. But on the 7th, nothing. On the 8th, nothing. On the 9th, nothing. Reporter oh, they would hear what happened to kevin. Soon enough. A shock in waiting. Coming up when i opened the door, everybody was looking at me so quiet. I was like, oh, something happened. Something happened to kevin. When dateline continues. Reporter on the 9th of december 2011 Heiko Lunsmann sat in his barren kitchen in a sinkhole of despair. His fbi friends with their notes and equipment were long gone. In a manila hotel room now, with his wife who had no news about kevin at all. Its just a terrible feeling. Youre feeling helpless, totally helpless, useless. Im just sitting here and hope the best. Reporter that very day, halfway around the world, gerfa got word that the fbi wanted to see her immediately. She rushed to the hotel room. When i opened the door, everybody was looking at me so quiet. Just stare at me. I was like, oh, something happened. Something happened to kevin. Reporter an fbi agent was holding a phone. On the line, the mayor of a small town on basilan island. Its for you, the agent told gerfa. The mayor said, mrs. Lunsmann . I was like, yeah . Kevin is out. I said, what . What . It was just like chaos after that. And then when i talked to him i was like, kevin. Hi, mom, this is kevin. You know, he just sound so good. It was just beautiful. It sounds like my son. Thats my son. Reporter kevin was free. But how . Its the craziest turn of my life probably. I didnt think it was ever going to happen. Reporter here he is, Kevin Lunsmann. And this is his amazing story. Which began a moment before the kidnappers took his mom away, when she leaned forward and whispered in his ear. I remember her words exactly. She said, you have to get home to your father. You have to go back home. And that made me realize that she might be thinking that she may not make it tonight. That she might be taken away to be killed . Yes. I just wanted to cry. And i didnt i didnt want to lose her. Reporter soon after that they took his cousin away too. After he left i was alone. There was nothing more. It was just me. Reporter 14 years old. All alone. In that dark room in the jungle. When he finally slept, he had a dream. Were in a twostory house. And i turn to my side and my mothers there and my cousins there. And then all of a sudden a barrage of bullets goes through the walls. All these bullets are flying through, and yet were not getting hit. All of a sudden i turn around and mom my mothers gone and my cousins gone. And the barrage of bullets has stopped. Everything has ceased. I just realized, im alone again. Even in my dream i was alone. Reporter he woke up, remembered his mothers words, get home to your dad, and he made a choice. I was going to get home. One way or another. How the heck would you do that . I was still unclear of that myself. I just had to wait. Maybe maybe one day theyd get careless. Youd escape . Yes. Reporter bit by bit he prepared. Physically i tried to maintain. I tried to get as much as food as i could when theyd give it to me. Sometimes do situps, pushups because if i ever did have to run id have to be somewhat in shape. Reporter and then he had an idea. The kidnappers allowed him to wash his clothes and hang them to dry on a line outside the house. Maybe if they were distracted somehow he could make a run for it, get to the ocean, catch a boat to the mainland. Wishful thinking of course. He was guarded around the clock. But then one morning, almost six months after he was taken hostage i woke up in the morning and i could hear no sounds whatsoever. I looked at the trails and i couldnt see anyone walking around. And it was sort of like a lightbulb moment. This might be it. Reporter he washed his clothes. Hung them up. Eyes darting. Two little voices working in his mind. One that was saying you should run. Another one saying you should stay. One was terrified. The other one knew what was waiting for me out there was much better. My own freedom. I proceeded to walk to the edge of the house. And i looked at the creek and around the side, and i could see no one. Nothing. No movement. And after that i just bolted. Reporter kevin knew, as many 14yearolds do, that water obliterates footprints, might hide his route of escape. And so, with his heart pounding and his ears straining for the sounds of pursuers, he picked his way down the creek bed and into the jungle. And then he heard it. The bird call. It wasnt just a bird. This was more of like a an alert call that the terrorists used to communicate with another. So i knew that the signal had been put out that i had escaped. Whatd that do to you . As soon as i heard it, i knew i had to get out as fast as i could. I had to run. I guess its one of those moments in life where you either grow up and deal with it or you decide to give up and stay a little boy. Those were my two choices. Are you going to panic or are you going to are you going to man up and are you going to try and get out of here . And i chose option two. Reporter and so he ran all day and into the thick black of a jungle night. His feet raw, his clothes ripped by unseen hazards, bloodied now by a thousand thorns that tore into his flesh. It was marsh, brush, thick thorns. Anything. I would get through it. At any cost. Even if it cost me my life, at least i tried. Reporter toward morning, exhausted, he searched for a hiding place so inhospitable his pursuers wouldnt think to look there. And he fell asleep in a mosquitoinfested swamp. And when the sun rose and he opened his eyes i remember waking up and not smelling the aroma of the coffee that they had brewed or maybe the types of food, like fried rice. I didnt smell any of that. I smelled fresh air. I smelled i smelled freedom. Reporter at least for the moment. But where was he . At a point i couldnt keep going through brush because i didnt know my exact location. I had to keep walking, possibly get on a road. Maybe i can find a different way. But there was danger because people might see you out here. Yes. People might see me, yes. Well, on this island you dont know whos with them and whos not, right . Right. Reporter but it was a risk he had to take. And soon regretted. Walking down the road, he heard a voice behind him. A man was approaching. And he had a rifle. Coming up i had escaped and walked through all of that terrain. And it was for nothing. He could take you away. Take you back to those guys. I froze. And i just thought, this is it. So you spent all your money on holiday gifts. Bitcoins are about to go bust. Which means like most people this time of year, youre broke. Introducing value jacks way. Five great ways to save, including four Crispy Chicken nuggets for 1, jacks oneofakind breakfast pockets for 2 each, three of my famous tacos and a small drink for 3, two breakfast croissants for 4, or the bonus jack combo, now just 5. Its like i tell jack jr. , its all about big value, jr. Prices. Thats value jacks way. Reporter for two days and one long night, Kevin Lunsmann could practically feel his captors breath on his neck, their guns in his back, as he ran and somehow eluded them. All my clothes were almost covered in mud, black, blood. Everything. My hair was ruffled. I smelled terrible. I probably had over 100 or more lacerations on my body. Blood all over my arms as well. So i didnt look too good. Reporter and then he took that one necessary risk, emerged to a public road, and there it was, the end. Clearly a local, on this abu sayyafinfested island, and he had a very big gun. I thought that it was all over. I had escaped and walked through all of that terrain, and it was for nothing. They had found me, and they were going to bring me back. Reporter then the man spoke, and the words startled kevin. He was speaking english. And he was asking, do you need help . You know, were you kidnapped . And i froze at that question and i just thought, this is it. Should i just tell him . He could go either way still. He could take you away, take you back to those guys. Right. And i knew those risks. But at this point i felt like i was going to put my trust in him. So howd he react . He proceeded to say, im going to get you out of here. Im going to get you home. And my names kenny. Im here to help. My name is kenny . My names kenny, like kenny rogers. Thats exactly what he said. It gave me a laugh. It was actually one of the first laughs i had in a long time. Reporter kenny got in touch with the mayor of a nearby village. The mayor called the Philippine Army, and the army arrived in humvees. It seemed like hundreds of them. And i was just like, this is all for me. I just couldnt believe it. I realized im really going to see my family again. Im going to see my friends. Im going to have my life back. Reporter but would he have his mom . For months kevin had been grieving, afraid shed been executed by the militants. But then the mayor gave him the phone and kevin heard a familiar voice. Hey, mom. Is that really you . I had no clue for months what happened to you. Once i heard her voice, i knew that was her. And i think at that point i felt alive again. There was color in my life again. Reporter after that 14yearolds amazing escape, the u. S. Military put him on a plane to manila, where his mother was waiting on the tarmac. The door was too slow to open. I was ready to climb that plane and open the door. And he stood there on the plane, right there, looking around. I was like, im right here. You know, its like, im right here. But he just like looking. And i was like, you dont recognize me . Okay, it must be the youve got to stop crying, right . And i see this woman. And i could see tears. And as i got closer and closer, i realized i knew who that was. We just ran up to each other, and we just hugged each other. And it was just incredible. Reporter back in lynchburg kevins dad, heiko, was delivering christmas turkeys to a hospital when somebody found him and gave him the news. I was so happy. Your mind gets clear again. So you dont have to be worried. And i will have my family back. It just is a great feeling. Its a great feeling. Reporter on december 14th, 2011, six months after they were taken hostage, gerfa and kevin finally came home, returned to lynchburg to heiko and to gerfas niece, sherry. It was awesome. The first thing we did was put up christmas decorations. Christmas decorations. Kevin and gerfa were so happy. I didnt know what to expect because of what theyd been through. But they were just so grateful to be back with their family. Reporter in 2012 the Philippine Army caught three of gerfa and kevins kidnappers. Gerfa returned to the philippines to testify at their trial and help send her captors to prison. Kevin was honored for his bravery by the virginia General Assembly and met president obama. Hes in college now and thinking about joining the fbi. He was there, you know, as a boy. And now he came out as a man. The whole maturity is just unbelievable. You must be pretty proud of that boy. Very proud. Reporter the five years that separate their ordeal from this evening on the beach with us have erased not a moment of the memory, the terror they shared, the pain, depravation, sorrow, and finally, joy. But we look on and see a bond only they can fully understand. Did you ever think youd actually be in this situation where youve got your arm around your mother and the two of you are talking about this in the past tense with smiles on your faces . Never. Not at that point, no. We didnt think it was going to ever be possible. But here we are. And were very glad to see you safe. Thank you. Im glad were back. Wonderful, wonderful. Thats all for now. Im lester holt. Thanks for joining us. Up next the shelter in place order in effect right now as that fire continues to burn in the east bay. Also, a local teacher charged with child endangerment accused of doing something unusual. Next. Can you see it. And can yu smell it . We re following breaking news spreading acr right now at 11 00, can you see it and can you smell it . Were following breaking news spreading across the east bay. A shelter in place order for several neighborhoods because of this fire burning at a metal yard. Good evening. Thanks for being with us. Im raj mathai. Im jessica aguirre. Six hours and counting shelter in place still in place in richmond because of that heavy black smoke. Nbc bay area cheryl hurd joins