On Thanksgiving 2017, Josh Holt posted on Facebook thanking those who have tried to free him, those who have written to him and prayed for him. He also expressed his gratitude for his wife, daughters, family, and shared this touching testimony: "I am also thankful for God. Thankful that he has never left my side and continues to bless me. Even in the darkest of days, we can find the way the Lord is blessing us. Through small and simple things great things come to past. I am thankful for Jesus Christ, for his atonement which without I would never be able to get through this trial . . . There have been so many days here that God has comforted me as I am here alone in this jail cell or lay crying on my bed out of frustration, sadness, or even loneliness."
A Utah man who has been held in a Venezuelan prison for two years pleaded for help from Americans Wednesday and said he feared for his life as violence erupted at the prison.
A message appeared on a Facebook page Wednesday belonging to Josh Holt, 26, of Riverton, saying in part that "I am not a political pawn I am a human being a child of God and I just want to live happy with my wife and children. I have NEVER done anything wrong in my life. Please help me!!"
In a video posted on the page on Wednesday, Holt said his life is in danger.
The turmoil renewed calls from U.S. government officials and Holt's family for the imprisoned Utahn to be freed on humanitarian grounds. Holt's mother and members of Utah's congressional delegation said they had learned he was not harmed in the prison riot.