Did they ever find that guy named Maupin

[shraby]

who was kidnapped in Iraq a long time ago?

[katamaran]

1. I was thinking about him the other day....

Apparently two years later, he's still missing and presumed dead. Here's an article that ran a few weeks ago in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-04-08-maupin-anniversary_x.htm

[MADem]

2. Well, since the nutcakes posted the video of his beheading (correction-

being shot in the head) on the net, I'd venture to guess that he is dead. The only reason the gov't won't acknowledge the matter is because they haven't found his remains.

Poor Matt Maupin...what a shitty end for him. And sad for his family, too.

Edited to correct methodology of execution...horrific, no matter how they did it.

[katamaran]

4. I think that was Nick Berg that you're thinking of

Nick Berg was the infamous beheading on tape that a few people have said is CIA psyops stuff.

[Ignacio Upton]

6. I remember that

Someone explain to me why the Bush Administration would behead him? To scare his anti-war father, whom the Freepers tried to target a few months before? That video was one of the most disturbing things I've ever watched.

[MADem]

8. No, see below, the kid was shot in front of an open grave

I misspoke when I said beheaded, I do recall seeing the tape when it first came out.

[dsc]

3. He is still listed as missing.

[MADem]

7. He ain't missing, he's dead--his remains are what's missing, I think

Al Jazeerah showed the footage up to the moment of execution--I must correct my above post, he was SHOT, not beheaded. Of course, unless they have remains, they'll keep him in MIA/Captured status for the time being; then switch him to MIA PK (presumed killed).

The network aired a video of Maupin speaking that closely resembled a tape from his captors soon after his capture April 9.

That was followed by a second or two of dark, grainy footage showing someone kneeling on the ground with his back to the camera.

Al-Jazeera said Monday the statement from the group said its members shot Maupin.

Senior Pentagon officials said the poor-quality, murky video was inconclusive and they could not say whether the person on the tape was Maupin. But officials said the videotape did show someone being shot....
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/06/28/iraq.main/index.html

In the videotape, which was aired on the Aljazeera early on Tuesday, Maupin is seen talking to the camera.

He is dressed in military fatigues.

Aljazeera said it catered to viewers' sensitivities and did not broadcast the execution but said Maupin appeared blindfolded in front of a freshly-dug grave with his back to the camera.

He was then shot in the head.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/4E4D8BDF-ED99-40F1-8C9C-E98BAFC543C6.htm

I feel so sad for his family, but if I had to guess, I'd say it is indeed him:

The figure on the grainy tape
is difficult to identify

It said it had received the footage along with a statement from a group called The Sharp Sword against the Enemies of God and His Prophet.

The statement, couched in Islamist terms, said the soldier had been killed in protest at US policies in Iraq and at deaths of "martyrs" in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Algeria.

Maj Willie Harris, a US Army spokesman, said the video was being analysed by the defence department. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3848707.stm

It's been over two years, are they STILL analyzing that tape????

Here's a recent article on his mother--shit, she must be beside herself, the kid would be only 22 or 23: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060416/NATION/604160387/1020
When the Army officer called, as he does every Friday at 6 p.m., one of the first things Carolyn asked was this: Are you any closer to finding my son?

The reply was simple, painful and routine: No.

Since the U.S. invaded Iraq three years ago, Matt is the only kidnapped soldier whose fate remains unknown.

Amazing how little coverage this gets. It bothers me that the media rarely mentions this poor kid.

[cynatnite]

5. Watched a segment about him on the news a few weeks ago...

Family is still hopeful he is alive.

There was a video tape showing the back of a man wearing a uniform similar to his. He was shot in the back of the head. Those responsible claim it is Maupin, but no one is taking that as definitive proof.