Who is Travis Timmerman? Missouri man freed after months of imprisonment in Syria

DAMASCUS, Syria - A man reportedly freed after spending several months imprisoned in Syria following an apparent Christian pilgrimage has been identified as Travis Timmerman, a U.S. citizen from Missouri.

According to several national reports, Timmerman was found alive on Thursday and released from imprisonment following the fall of President Bashar Assad's regime.

In a Missouri State Highway Patrol missing persons bulletin issued on June 2, Timmerman is identified by his legal name of Pete Travis Timmerman. The bulletin stated that he was last known to be in Budapest, Hungary, on May 28.

In late August, Hungarian police issued a missing persons announcement for Timmerman, while authorities in Missouri and Hungary circulated photos that apparently resmbeled him following his disappearance, according to the Associated Press.

The AP further reports that Timmerman was found on Thursday, where he identified himself as "Travis Timmerman" to international news outlets. He said he had been detained after crossing into Syria on foot on a Christian pilgrimage.

Missouri court records indicate Timmerman is from Urbana, Missouri, nearly 50 miles north of Springfield. A graduation list from Missouri State University states that he earned his bachelor’s degree in finance in the spring of 2017.

Online records from Huld.com and Athletic.net indicate that Timmerman is an alum of Skyline High School who played on the school's football and track and field teams.

Remarks from a friend

Tyler Kleeschulte, a longtime friend and fraternity brother of Timmerman, spoke to FOX 2 on Thursday about their memories together, in addition to Timmerman's recent disappearance.

Kleeschulte has known Timmerman since 2013, when they were both refounding fathers of the Sigma Pi fraternity (Alpha Rho chapter) at Missouri State.

Kleeschulte described Travis as a calm, kind, and athletic leader who excelled academically and committed to growing the fraternity's footprint.

"When he came in, he was a leader," said Kleeschulte. "He would step up in the fraternity and always help me and the other executive leaders at the time when we're trying to establish our fraternity out in anything we need to do. He was an outstanding guy."

The two kept in touch occasionally since graduation, and Kleeschulte recalled Timmerman attending law school in Tennessee.

"We were trying to reach back out to him for a fraternity event, but I hadn't talked to him in a few years before this, and then just kind of popped up," said Kleeschulte.

When the missing person report for Timmerman came around, Kleeschulte says he shared in a fraternity group chat. No one knew anything about Timmerman's whereabouts at that time, prompting concerns for his well-being.

Upon hearing of his recent release from Syria, Kleeschulte says his fraternity brothers were relieved.

"My fraternity group chat has been blowing up nonstop this morning about it," he said. "Really happy to see that Travis was found alive, but also in good health."

Kleeschulte hopes to reconnect with Timmerman and offer any assistance needed.

"I really hope that he gets back home safe, and we can all reach out and just say, 'Hey brother. Welcome back.'"