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US Marine jailed in Mexican prison

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    Steve Harrigan reports from Miami, Florida

  • Duration 2:46
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Closer to home now and desperate pleas for help from the family of a former US marine locked up in a Mexican jail the family of John -- Says he's stuck behind bars because of an honest mistake and there's word that he might be in danger.

The young war veteran was on a road trip when he tried to cross the Mexican border with a shotgun that was a family heirloom.

Now he's locked up on gun charges in Mexico and -- father says they're not losing hope and many people are behind him.

It's chaos down there you know.

There's there's people coming and going there that are good people and bad people I get a call here tonight in the wee hours of the morning.

From a teacher there and Matamoros on the ground and he should you know John I don't -- -- it -- historian and there's good people here.

You know we're not old -- cartel members went on -- bad people.

So I know I understand him you know should I know -- it doesn't help you.

You know.

We -- praying that you know you pitchers and home.

And that is -- -- -- -- Steve Harrigan now live in our bureau in Miami Steve what's the family saying about their son in the prison that he is in now.

Bill it's really been a four month ordeal for the family began getting threatening phone calls from inside -- prison just days after John.

Hammer was arrested the first call was demand for 18100 dollars to be sent via western union or else the caller said.

Your son would be killed Olivea hammer said the call made her physically ill.

We have your son and -- and and and we McKellen and and you know I have this really weird response per cent oh no we're gonna call the consulate.

Andy's -- he can view.

It was though it was only after those numerous threats that Jon Hamm -- was moved from the prison's general population into a storage room bill.

-- else is pushing for his release who else is giving him support.

Throughout this for months the family has been initially low key but that didn't get them anywhere.

It's a -- becoming very public a lot of friends and family and online petitions as well was elected officials.

The families congresswoman.

Has implied that the State Department is not doing enough to free John hammer.

I am very frustrated -- with the response so of the State Department -- very bureaucratic it's very cold.

And I don't wanna say that -- the state department's fault they'll force the Mexican government is at fault the Mexican authorities on the responsible ones.

Questions too about the legal process so far.

Hammer's attorney in Mexico told us that at least one of the hearings -- had no translator present or an attorney either.

Tailback Steve -- watching that story from Miami Allison has more on.

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