For several months, Asia-Plus has corresponded with Jea Austin, the mother of Jay Austin who was among a group of four foreign cyclists killed by terrorists in Danghara district on July 29 last year.
Шn her heartfelt and frank letters, Jea Austin told us about how bright and unusual was life of American tourist Jay Austin, about his unfulfilled dreams and hopes, his wisdom.
The 29-year-old Jay Austin was among a group of four cyclists — including an American woman, a Dutchman, and a Swiss man — killed on July 29 when attackers plowed into their group on a road and then stabbed some of them. The other three killed were Austin's girlfriend, Lauren Geoghegan, 29, who was also an American national, a Dutchman, and a Swiss man.
Two other foreign cyclists survived the attack, which occurred in Danghara district of Khatlon province about 150 kilometers south of Dushanbe.
Four suspects in the attack were killed by Tajik security forces. The fifth one, Husein Abdusamadov, was found guilty of murder in November 2018 and sentenced to life in prison.
Meanwhile, Radio Liberty reported on March 15 this year that Jea Santovasco, the mother of Jay Austin, said she had written a letter to the surviving attacker Husein Abdusamadov, although she was unsure whether he ever got it.
"I am the mother of Jay Austin, a remarkable young man you deliberately, brutally murdered. Although I was not ready to say good-bye to my son, you have given him the greatest gift — to live in peace in eternity. He has not died, only his physical body has." Jay’s mother wrote in the letter to Abdusamadov.
