and this is dateline. i just can t imagine to be held in captivity. dad, just send the money. that s all they want. they have an american kid. a 14-year-old kid in the middle of the jungle. they re thinking they have the jackpot. they were vacationers turned prisoners. a mother and son, kidnapped by terrorists. we need 10 million u.s. dollars for the release of your family. 10 million, from me? are you losing your mind? a harrowing international hostage drama. this is a big operation, this is not just a drag tag group of people. anything can happen, there are no guarantees. can a father to negotiator to bring them home? prepare for the worst. i m getting worried. i m getting so worried. a lot of people were praying for them. a lot of people were. hello, and welcome to dateline, they were on a dream vacation when suddenly a mother, her teenage son, and a cousin were all kidnapped by a group of men with guns wanting money and lots of it. but the wo
i thought that that was it was all over. i had escaped and walk through all of that terrain and it was for nothing. they had found me and they were going to bring me back. but then the man spoke. and the word startled kevin. he was speaking english. he was asking, do you need help? 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? 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 how did he react? he proceeded to say, i m going to get you out of here. get your home. my name is kenny, i m here to help. my name is kenny? yes, my name is kenny, like kenny rogers. that s exactly what he said. and it gave me a laughed. and it was one of the first
help? 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? take you away. take you back to those guys. yes, my name is kenny, like kenny rogers. that s exactly what he said. and it gave me a laughed. and it was one of the first last i had in a long time. kenny got in touch with the mayor of a nearby village. the mayor called the philippine army. and the army arrive in humvees. it seemed like hundreds of them. and i just like, this is all for me. i couldn t believe it. i realized that i would see my family again. i m going to see my friends. i m going to have my life back. but would he have his mom? four months, kevin had been grieving. afraid she had 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 didn t know for months what happened to you. once i heard her voice and knew
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 how d he react? he proceeded to say, i m going to get you out of here. i m going to get you home. and my name s kenny. i m here to help. my name is kenny? my name s kenny, like kenny rogers. that s 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 couldn t believe it. i realized i m really going to see my family again. i m going to see my friends. i m going to have my life back. reporter: but would he have his mom? for months kevin had been grieving, afraid she d been executed by the militants. but then the mayor gave him the phone and kevin heard
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. how did he react? he proceeded to say i m going to get you out of here. i m going to get you home. and my name is kenny. i m here to help. my name is kenny. my name is kenny, like kenny rogers. exactly what he said. and it gave me a laugh. it was actually one of the first laughs i had in a long time. kenny got in touch with the mayor of a nearby village. the mayor called the philippine army. and the army arrived in humvees. seemed like hundreds of them. and i was like, this is all for me. i couldn t believe it. i realized i m going to see my family again. i m going to see my friends. i m going to have my life back. but would he have his mom? for months, kevin had begrieving, afraid she had been executed by the militants. then the mayor gave him the phone and kevin heard a familiar