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International
The Associated Press
Winona, Minn.

Minnesota parents: Son taken by Russian military in Ukraine

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A man sits at a table
Tyler Jacob, who grew up in Winona, Minn., moved to Ukraine in November, and disappeared after he told his family he'd been taken into custody by Russian military forces to be deported. His mother, Tina Hauser, says she's desperate to get word from him.
Courtesy of family.

Some Minnesota parents fear for the safety of their adult son in Ukraine who they say was taken by the Russian military.

Tina Hauser, of Winona, told KAAL-TV the last time she spoke with her son, Tyler Jacob, was Saturday when he told her he was being forced by the Russian military to board a bus out of Kherson and leave his Ukrainian wife and daughter behind.

“My worst nightmare is coming true, and I’m fearful that they are going to torture him and kill him and I’m not ever going to see my son again,” said Hauser through tears.

Hauser said she has called the U.S. Embassy but has not heard back. She has also reached out to Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s office for help.

“My heart goes out to Tyler’s family and we will do everything we can to locate him. My office is working with the State Department and the embassy to find him and resolve this situation as quickly as possible,” Klobuchar said in a statement.

The senator's press secretary, Jane Meyer, said Wednesday there was no update on the case.

The State Department said it is aware of the reports, but due to privacy considerations has no further comment.

Jacob, 28, was teaching English in Kherson when Russian troops invaded the country, according to his father, John Quinn, of Cannon Falls.

He said Jacob got on an evacuation bus for foreigners headed to Turkey on Saturday. But at a checkpoint in Crimea, the bus was stopped by Russian soldiers and Jacob was detained, WCCO-TV reported.

“It’s heartbreaking that your child would have to go through something like that,” his father said.