San Diego Photographer Freed by Syrian Government

SAN DIEGO, CA: A 33-year-old freelance photographer from San Diego who had been held in Syria for four years has been freed, it was reported Friday.

The Syrian government released Kevin Patrick Dawes sometime in the past few days following several months of negotiations, U.S. officials told The Washington Post. Dawes was abducted after crossing into Syria from Turkey in 2012.

Details about Dawes' release have yet to be made public, but the newspaper reported he had been allowed to call family members and receive packages in recent months.

Authorities believe a second freelance journalist, Austin Tice of Plano, Texas, remains in Syria. Tice was kidnapped in Damascus in August 2012, according to the FBI.

Dawes' release may be a sign that Tice could also be freed, The Washington Post reported.

—City News Service; Photo released by the FBI