The death of Otto Warmbier is as mysterious as N. Korea itself. At the time of his travel, he was 21 years old and a student at the University of Virginia. He was curious about communism, his travels to Israel, Cuba and N. Korea “improved his reputation” and fulfilled his curiosity. Otto was a smart young man, graduating second in his HS class and a third year finance student with strong aspirations of making something of himself. We learn how far he is willing to go during his bizarre press conference.
It looks like his confession is either staged or a desperate attempt to show himself as a manipulated young man. Take a look for yourself in video below.
According to Otto, he was manipulated by the US Administration & Friendship United Methodist Church of Ohio to steal a propaganda poster. He states that the church wanted this poster as a “trophy” to hang on their wall, as their mission is to spread Christianity in communist countries. Their intent was to show the oppression of the N. Koreans, the love they have for their system and to weaken their unity and motivation. Per Otto, the church is very well connected amongst Democratic politicians and often is visited for political contributions. He claims this church is worth 42 million dollars and funded about 3% of Obama's 2008 presidential campaign- $10 million dollars. Otto stated this church offered him a car worth $10,000 and $200,000 for his siblings college tuition should he be caught ONLY if he didn't mention the church’s involvement.
He also reveals that he wants to be part of a secret society , the “Z” society of the University of Virginia. This society is extremely secretive but has produced successful businessmen, politicians and religious leaders. Per Otto, he is encouraged to go through the plan of stealing this poster; as it will help his chances of getting into the “Z” society.
Otto went to N.Korea on December of 2015 with a tour group called Young Pioneer Tours- a company known to party as part of the tour, not his type of personality, but what he could afford -$1,200. The group was there for five days, they stayed in a hotel and were allowed to roam it freely, but told not to go to the 5th floor- as it is reserved for staff only.
Because of its mystery, some tourist have gone to the 5th floor of this hotel, check it out video below.
Otto thinks there he could find his trophy. He decides to got to the 5th floor on Jan 1 (New Year’s), thinking the hotel staff will be busy for the holiday. Once there, he realizes the poster is too heavy and leaves the idea behind. But he is caught by a surveillance camera and detained at the airport as he is about to leave the country. His tour group is only told he is not feeling well and leave him behind. Weeks later, we learn of his crime, hostile acts against the state. He is sentenced to 15 years of hard labor.
Back home, his parents are desperate to get him back. They are advised not to make any public pleas by the Obama administration for fear the N.Korea regime may retaliate. Obama does nothing to intervene. The family feels helpless. Otto request for a press conference, the DPR Korea grants his request. This is the last time anyone sees him alive.
When President Trump took office he ordered to take all measures necessary to bring him home.
“ Last evening we received a very nice phone call from President Trump who said Secretary of State Tillerson worked hard to bring Otto home. We are extremely grateful for their efforts and concern. It is my understanding that Ambassador Yun and his team, at the direction of the president aggressively pursued resolution of the situation. They have our thanks for bringing him home.”
Per N. Korea, he was released on humanitarian basis, per his parents, the N.Korea does nothing out of kindness. Either way, Otto was home physically, just not in the health people were expecting. He was delivered in a state of coma.
"Otto had a shaved head. He had a feeding tube coming out of his nose. He was staring blankly into space, jerking violently. He was blind. He was deaf. As we looked at him and tried to comfort him, it looked like someone had taken a pair of pliers and rearranged his bottom teeth. Within two days of Otto being home, his fever spiked to 104 degrees. He had a large scar on his right foot." - Fred Warmbier
Otto Warmbier died at 2:20p.m on June 19, 2017, six days later after returning home. Doctors learned Otto had been in coma for over a year and had suffered severe brain tissue damage. It is not known what caused this damage. Some suspect it was through torture. But the N.Korea regime denies such charges. Who knows? The “report” (a full autopsy was not conducted at the request of Otto's mother Cindy, perhaps because of their Jewish faith) released on 09/27/17 did not answer any questions as to what caused the damage to his brain. However, doctors noted an interesting fact, well two. The first was that Otto's skin was in "excellent condition", which meant they paid extra attention to him since he was bedridden. Second, the fact that his teeth were not tampered with despite his parents stating so.
"There was no evidence of trauma to the teeth," Sammarco said to reporters. "We were surprised at that statement."
Otto's death, "autopsy" & testimony will remain as mysterious as the lives of many North Korean's. Do you think he was tortured? What about the claims he made about the church and administration---was his testimony forced?