PITTSBURGH — A Somerset County man who spent 101 days detained in Turks and Caicos is home.
Bryan Hagerich arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport just after 9:30 Friday evening and ran into the arms of his two small children.
Hagerich faced up to 12 years in prison after he was found with hunting ammunition on his way out of the country. Early Friday, a judge ruled the ammunition was brought in unintentionally and gave him a suspended sentence.
“God has a plan,” Hagerich said. “Just in a matter of 12 hours, my life has been a complete 180. Looking at 12 years to now. My biggest concern is coaching my kid’s baseball games tomorrow. That is such a relief.”
His release comes after a major effort here at home. Congressman Guy Reschenthaler and Senator John Fetterman were part of a delegation that traveled to the Caribbean earlier this week to lobby for the release of Hagerich and other detained Americans.
“This is just wonderful. The kids in their pajamas. For the first time they can all wake up together with pancakes and stuff. It’s just pretty great,” Fetterman said.
“On Monday when we left the island, we weren’t sure that Bryan was going to be released,” Reschenthaler said.
Hagerich looked relieved as he hugged friends and family.
“Just as a father, as a husband, to be reunited after 101 days. I feel like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders,” Hagerich said.
He also shared a message to the families of the remaining American detainees: “Keep praying.”
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