On Friday, the United States renewed its efforts to resolve the mysterious disappearance of an American, Paul Edwin Overby Jr., in Afghanistan by offering a substantial reward of $6 million. Overby, a freelance writer, disappeared in May 2014 while conducting research in Khost province, Afghanistan, with intentions of possibly crossing into Pakistan, according to the FBI.
Overby was no stranger to the region, having previously authored a nonfiction book titled “Holy Blood: An Inside View of the Afghan War.” His wife, Jane Larson, mentioned that Overby had been working on a sequel and aimed to interview Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the Haqqani network, which is allied with the Taliban. Reuters highlighted Larson’s belief that her husband was kidnapped, as she made a heartfelt plea in 2017 through a Pakistani newspaper for his release, urging his captors to reunite “an aging couple.” Today, Overby would be 83 years old.
Assistant Director in Charge Darren Cox stated, “For over a decade, FBI agents and analysts have worked tirelessly to find Paul and bring him home. We will continue to coordinate with partner agencies and pursue all credible leads until we can provide Paul’s family with the answers they’ve waited 12 years to hear.”
In recent times, the Taliban has released several Americans who were wrongfully detained in Afghanistan. One notable release occurred in March when Dennis Coyle, a 64-year-old academic and language expert from Colorado, was freed from detention, underscoring the ongoing efforts to resolve such cases.
FBI
His wife told a Pakistani newspaper in 2017 that she believed he was kidnapped and appealed to his kidnappers to reunite “an aging couple.” Overby would be 83 years old.
“For over a decade, FBI agents and analysts have worked tirelessly to find Paul and bring him home,” Assistant Director in Charge Darren Cox said. “We will continue to coordinate with partner agencies and pursue all credible leads until we can provide Paul’s family with the answers they’ve waited 12 years to hear.”
The Taliban has recently released several Americans wrongfully detained in Afghanistan. In March, Dennis Coyle, a 64-year-old academic and language expert from Colorado, was released from detention.
Ryan Corbett and another American, William McKenty, were released in January 2025, with the help of Qatari negotiators, in exchange for a Taliban figure who had been imprisoned for life on drug trafficking charges.
George Glezmann and another American, Faye Hall, were released in March 2025, followed by a fifth American, Amir Amiri, who was freed last September.
The FBI Washington Field Office announced a reward of up to $1 million. The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program is still offering a reward of up to $5 million for information.
Both rewards for information leading to Overby’s location, recovery and return remain unclaimed.
