487 Days in Captivity
Jonathon Cote, who attended UF before moving to Iraq to work for a private security company, was kidnapped in November 2006 when his convoy was ambushed.
Cote’s friends and family said while they are obviously disturbed by the latest development, it has renewed hope that he is still alive.
“I personally feel very encouraged by the news, although it was very harsh to hear at first,” said Maude Cote, his cousin. “It probably is a sign that whoever is holding him is willing to negotiate at this point.”
After graduating high school in New York, Cote joined the military and spent four years in Afghanistan and Iraq.
When his tour of duty ended, he returned to the United States and decided he wanted to go to college at UF