However, he claimed he was unable to reach out to them due to a belief that his alleged kidnapper had placed him under some form of supernatural influence.
According to the report from El Khabar, an Algerian news outlet, after Omar’s disappearance, his loyal pet dog remained near the neighbor’s residence for an extended period.
The newspaper alleges that the suspected captor eventually poisoned the dog in order to discourage the family from continuing their search in that area.
The discovery came more than 10 years after his mother pas::sed away, never knowing what had happened to her son.
According to the Evening Standard, a neighbor told Algerian TV station Bilad: “His poor mom died while he was in captivity, without knowing what had happened to him, without knowing that all this time he was really right beside her.”
The suspect, a 61-year-old man, attempted to escape when he was discovered but was restrained and then arrested.
Since then, Algerian authorities have announced that six suspects have been detained, and two others have been placed under judicial supervision, allowing them to remain free while facing trial.
In a statement, Algeria’s Judicial Council said: “A judicial investigation has been opened against the main suspect for the crime of kidnapping and luring a person, detaining a person without an order from the competent authorities and outside the cases permitted by the law, as well as human trafficking of a victim in a status of vulnerability.”
Authorities previously described the crime as ‘heinous,’ and said the investigation was still ongoing, according to BBC.
They promised the ‘perpetrator of this heinous crime ‘will be tried with severity.’
Currently, Omar is receiving specialized care as he begins his journey towards recovery.
NEW: Man who disappeared 27 years ago at the age of 17, found alive 200 meters from his family’s home in a neighbor’s cellar.
Insane.
Omar Bin Omran of Algeria disappeared 27 years ago. He went missing in 1998 on his way to a vocational school.
A 61-year-old is in police… pic.twitter.com/idkvSCykmh
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 15, 2024
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