A U.S. senator announced Sunday that Guthrie McLean, a 25-year-old college student, was released by Chinese authorities after he was arrested a week ago following a dispute with a taxi driver who was allegedly being rough with his mother.
Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., made the announcement Sunday and said Chinese police released McLean earlier in the day.
“I am thrilled to report that we just received an email from Guthrie McLean’s mother that ‘prayers answered, Guthrie is home,'” Daines said in a statement. “After days of working the phones with top Chinese and American officials to secure Guthrie’s freedom from a Chinese detention facility, he has been safely reunited with his mother.”
Guthrie, a senior at the University of Montana, was detained on July 16 in Zhengzhou on charges of intentional injury.
Jennifer McLean, Guthrie’s mother, alleged Chinese police demanded the equivalent of $7,400 from the family as her son was threatened with up to three years in prison if they declined payment.