Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

'Factor' exclusive: Jon Hammar’s journey to freedom

Details

  • Description

    Ex-Marine Jon Hammar talks about his imprisonment in Mexico

  • Duration 5:51
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Latest World

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

-- -- segment tonight as you may know we were very involved in covering the story of former marine corporal John hammer.

Unjustly imprisoned in Mexico.

-- -- spent more than four months and a filthy Matamoros jail was even change was dead for a short time.

Shortly before Christmas Mexican authorities released him under heavy pressure from the factor -- other media.

Joining us now from Miami in a factor exclusive is corporal -- first why is still -- corporal.

Very uncomfortable about -- when you first got out of prison though.

And you walked across to the US your doctor was on -- program.

Told me that you're really bad shape did you know you're so physically run down.

Why I had I was dehydrated.

Malnourished.

Had a it's lung infection.

Stomach issues.

A number of things.

What caused all.

I think it was just been about environment.

You know I -- the majority of the time without getting sick but up up until the end because when I started didn't.

Little bill let's pick it up when you ordeal began.

You drive down with a friend to Brownsville Texas -- check in with the US authorities what do you tell the US people.

We told them we've got this hunting shotgun.

And we're trying to go through Mexico legally and what are we have to do.

They gave us some paperwork to fill said you know she declared with this paperwork you should be fine.

We paid a fee.

We cross the border.

And declared the weapon.

And then that's where.

A short while after that that's where things started going wrong she'd go voluntarily to the Mexican -- side.

You show them the American paperwork and then they immediately do what -- It took him awhile to talk to their superiors.

To figure out what they're gonna do -- it.

Once.

-- certain superior that made the decision that I was.

Gonna go to jail came through.

Wednesday started doing the paperwork they didn't let us know that we're going to jail though.

They've made it sound like we're just gonna go to a place in and pay a -- So.

-- that took us downtown.

We stayed there for -- is my friend got out I stayed in and then eventually I ended up in prison.

What happened when you walked into the -- Initially there is there's some pressure put on me.

They tried to extort money from the -- But.

Did American council.

Was contacted.

Andy this.

Move me out of the general population and put me into -- -- code.

You know a single place by myself.

How would they try to extort money from you.

-- -- your family.

-- they throw threats you and your friendly.

And tell you know that we need we need your money the way they threaten you -- violence.

Yes they do -- -- threats of my life when I initially got in there.

How did you analyze.

-- -- that -- because I'm alive right now do you fight.

There's not much of a fight who's who deserves a look a little bit of -- you know they roughed me up a little bit but.

Who was quickly resolve the moon back to talking.

What was it fear factor as far as you're concerned when you trade for your life and -- are we fearful.

I mean there's definitely the third time in their where you know I had to keep that in mind that.

I wouldn't really concentrate on that because I didn't want that.

To make -- have any mistakes or anything like -- How did you pass the time.

Red the last stand of fox company.

It's about the Marine Corps and North Korea.

-- and I also read the Bible I read the whole old testament and almost all of the new testament.

When you were in there were you aware that this program and other media were trying to get you out.

Not until late in the game.

Really not until maybe the last month that I realized there is actual media coverage.

We frustrated.

I was frustrated with with every with all the different authorities I had infield.

Anything really worked out in my favor but in the end you know -- I did get out and it worked out without anyone getting hurt.

It must have been very difficult for you to talk to your parents say you had some phone conversations with -- thanks to the US -- down there was a difficult -- -- -- mom and stuff right.

There was difficult do you know Chris.

The -- Mexico is telling me one thing and they are getting other information we're going back and forth trying to find out what was going on so it goes to -- -- -- some people want to give -- twelve years for this little deal that was what was.

Right staring you in the face right twelve years.

Yeah they were there figure -- twelve years.

Do you have any bitterness toward the Mexicans.

Know I don't I think I think -- -- a great place I really wish.

You know like like everywhere could kind of get its act together.

Anything we can -- you let us know we appreciate you talking to us tonight.

And bill are really I'd like to thank you for everything you've done -- -- in this situation.

I'd also like to think Ileana Ross Leighton.

Bill Nelson and on the congress people okay car blows a pleasure for us to do -- your patriot and we wish you all the best.

Load More