A Utah family whose son was implicated in a thwarted coup in Congo said they’re unsure if he's alive as they struggle to get U.S. officials to make contact with him and two other Americans two weeks after their arrest.
Tyler Thompson Jr., 21, flew to Africa in April with his former high school football teammate, Marcel Malanga, 21, for what his family believed was a vacation, with all expenses paid by Marcel's father. But the itinerary might have included more than sightseeing. Other teammates alleged that Marcel had offered up to $100,000 to join him on a “security job” in Congo.
