What Happened to Otto Warmbier? How Did Otto Warmbier Die?
by Abinaya
Updated Jul 19, 2023
What Happened to Otto Warmbier?
Otto Warmbier was a 22-year-old American student arrested in North Korea in January 2016 for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster from a hotel. He was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. During his imprisonment, Warmbier fell into a coma under mysterious circumstances. He was released by North Korea in June 2017 and returned to the United States.
However, upon his arrival, it was evident that he was in a severe neurological condition. Medical examinations revealed extensive brain damage, but the exact cause of his injuries remained unclear. His father, Fred Warmbier, made a public statement alleging that Otto had been systematically tortured and intentionally injured. The severity of his condition led to his death on June 19, 2017, just days after his return to the US.
How did Otto Warmbier Die?
After being sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in North Korea for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster from a hotel, Otto Warmbier suffered a neurological injury under unclear circumstances shortly after his sentencing. Seventeen months after his arrest, Warmbier was released by North Korea in June 2017. However, his condition upon release was extremely critical.
He was in a severely debilitated state, showing signs of extensive brain damage. Warmbier was immediately transported to a hospital in the United States for intensive medical care. Tragically, despite efforts to save his life, Otto Warmbier passed away just six days after his return to the US. The exact cause of Warmbier's death and the circumstances surrounding his neurological injury remain unclear.
Otto Warmbier Parents
Cindy and Fred Warmbier are residents of Wyoming, Ohio. In addition to Otto, they have two other children named Austin and Greta, completing their family. Otto Warmbier, a 22-year-old college student at the University of Virginia, was arrested in North Korea in January 2016. He was accused of stealing a propaganda poster from a hotel in Pyongyang, which led to his subsequent sentencing of 15 years of hard labor.
The likelihood of actually collecting this sum remains uncertain. Despite the immense pain they have endured, Cindy and Fred Warmbier are determined to keep Otto's memory alive. They strive to ensure that no other family experiences the same tragic circumstances and are actively working to shed light on human rights issues.
Otto Warmbier After Release
After being released from North Korea in a comatose state, Otto Warmbier faced a tragic fate. Despite his return to the United States in June 2017, Otto Warmbier remained in a coma and never regained consciousness.
Warmbier's passing was attributed to an unknown injury that resulted in a lack of oxygen to his brain, as stated in the coroner's report. The specific circumstances surrounding this injury and the events that led to his comatose state remained unclear. The exact cause of Otto Warmbier's injury, which ultimately led to his untimely death, has not been definitively determined or publicly disclosed.
Who Was Otto Warmbier?
Otto Frederick Warmbier, born on December 12, 1994, was an American college student who became widely known after being imprisoned in North Korea in 2016. In December 2015, Warmbier entered North Korea as part of a guided tour group. However, on January 2, 2016, he was arrested at Pyongyang International Airport while awaiting departure from the country.
Warmbier's medical condition was not disclosed until June 2017 when they announced that he had fallen into a coma due to botulism and a sleeping pill. After 17 months in captivity, he was freed, still in a comatose state. He was repatriated to the United States and arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio, on June 13, 2017.
He was immediately taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for evaluation and treatment. Despite receiving medical care, Warmbier never regained consciousness. Tragically, on June 19, 2017, his parents made the difficult decision to request the removal of his feeding tube, and he passed away six days after his return to the United States.
The exact cause of Warmbier's fatal injury, which led to a lack of oxygen to his brain, remains unknown, as stated in the coroner's report. Internal scans did not reveal any fractures to his skull.
What Happened to Otto Warmbier - FAQ
Otto Warmbier, a 22-year-old American student, was arrested in North Korea in 2016 for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster. He was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. During his imprisonment, he fell into a coma and was released by North Korea in June 2017. He died soon after his return to the United States.
Warmbier died due to an unknown injury that caused a lack of oxygen to his brain. He passed away on June 19, 2017, six days after his return to the United States.
Cindy and Fred Warmbier are Otto Warmbier's parents. They have been vocal about seeking justice for their son and raising awareness about human rights abuses.
A U.S. federal court found the North Korean government liable for Warmbier's torture and death in a default judgment. The court awarded damages to Warmbier's parents. However, North Korea did not contest the charges.
North Korea denied any wrongdoing and claimed that Warmbier received medical care while in custody. They portrayed themselves as victims of a "smear campaign" by the United States.