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RIVERTON — It's been almost four months since Riverton resident Josh Holt was arrested and placed in a Venezuelan prison.
His family says he is a political pawn and is innocent. On Tuesday, there were significant movements along the path to Holt's release.
The family told KSL on Monday night they received word from "trustworthy and reliable sources" that their son would be released Tuesday. However, they learned late Tuesday afternoon that was not going to happen.
"We get our hopes up, and then it comes crashing down," said Laurie Holt, Josh's mother.
Late Monday night, Venezuela’s opposition alliance reported five political prisoners were released.
"We were really hoping that Josh was one of them," Laurie Holt said.
He wasn't.
"I guess we just kind of had hope that this was going to be the one," she said.
The fight is not over, and their hope is not gone. The family learned a high-ranking member of the U.S. State Department met with President Maduro of Venezuela Monday and specifically asked for their son's release.
Holt said they've also discovered a new and surprising ally in the fight for their son.
"The Vatican is there," Holt said.
The family's lawyer told them a Vatican representative is petitioning on behalf of political prisoners and trying to reach a resolution.
"We just need (President Maduro) to let Josh come home," Holt said.
Now, the mother is making a plea from nearly 4,000 miles away to the nation's president. She wrote a letter directly to Maduro that was released by the press nationwide Tuesday.
"My heart has become torn from me," Holt read from the letter. "I literally shake all the time. I miss his smile and loving embrace."
Josh is scheduled to appear in a Venezuelan court next Tuesday. However, a judge has failed to show up to two prior court dates.
The family is worried time is running out because the courts are scheduled to close soon for the holidays and won't reopen until January.
"For us, it's just continual bombs lowering all the time," Laurie Holt said. "It's like, when are we just going to finally get that good news?"
