American Paul Johnson, a defense contractor who was kidnapped in Saudi Arabia June 12, 2004, is seen in this image taken from a video shown on an Islamic Web site. His captors threatened to kill him unless Saudi authorities released al Qaeda prisoners within three days. On June 18, a U.S. official confirmed that Johnson had been beheaded. A month later, his head was found during a raid on the Riyadh hideout of the Saudi al Qaeda chief.
Johnson was captured by a group calling itself al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The organization is believed to be led by al Qaeda's Saudi chief, Abdulaziz Issa Abdul-Mohsin al-Moqrin. In this image from the tape, a man holding an AK-47 read a statement. He was identified in the graphics as al-Moqrin.
"My name is Paul Marshall Johnson, Jr.," the hostage, pictured, said in the video. "I am an American. ... I work on Apache helicopters."
The tape also displayed Johnson's Lockheed Martin identification card, pictured. According to the company's Web site, Johnson worked as a field engineer in Riyadh supporting the Apache helicopter program. His son said Johnson, a former Air Force service member, moved from New Jersey to Florida in the early 1980s to work for Lockheed; he then worked in Saudi Arabia for more than a decade.
Johnson and his wife, Thanom, are pictured in this undated family photo released by his son. Relatives said Johnson and his wife were building a home in her native country of Thailand.
Johnson's wife, Thanom, appeals for his freedom in an interview broadcast June 18, 2004, on the Saudi owned satellite TV Channel Al-Arabiya. Image taken from video.
Vickie Vincent, left, and her husband, Michael, participate in a candlelight vigil for Johnson, June 17, 2004, at Space Coast Sports Complex in Port St. John, Fla. More than 200 people attended the service, which was held just hours before his captors promised to kill Johnson unless Saudi authorities released al Qaeda prisoners.
Hundreds participate in a candlelight vigil for Johnson, June 17, 2004, at Space Coast Sports Complex in Port St. John, Fla. Johnson lived in Brevard County, Fla., in the early 1980s.
Jeffrey Marski, 10, left, and his brother, Tom, 12, hold flags as they join in a candlelight vigil for Johnson in Port St. John, Fla., June 17, 2004.
Joey Robertson, whose mother was once married to Paul Johnson Jr., joins in a candlelight vigil for Johnson with his wife, Summer, in Port St. John, Fla., June 17, 2004.
Joanne Petro puts up a sign in support of Johnson, who she grew up with, in preperation for a vigil at the fire department in Johnson's hometown of Eagleswood Township, N.J., June 17, 2004.
Dorothy Pharo, left, is consoled by Iris Emas during a vigil for Johnson at the fire department in Eagleswood Township, N.J., June 17, 2004.
Brayden Shinn sits in the rain near a site decorated with yellow ribbons for a vigil for Johnson in Eagleswood Township, N.J., June 17, 2004.
Joey Robertson, whose mother was once married to Johnson, carries a family picture back to the home of Johnson's son, Paul Johnson III, in Port St. John, Fla., June 13, 2004.
Paul Johnson III holds a press conference June 14, 2004, in Port St. John, Fla. He spoke to reporters about his father's love of Arabic culture, and said his father once sent a copy of the Quran to his sister, with passages highlighted from the Islamic holy text that he felt were especially important.
A family friend of Paul Johnson III hangs a yellow ribbon on a tree outside his home in Port St. John, Fla., June 13, 2004.
Wayne Johnson talks to reporters about his brother, Paul Johnson, as family health aide Barbara Pagliuchi looks on, June 13, 2004, in Manahawkin, N.J. "I just don't want to hear bad news because I know they're sadistic," said his brother. "The more people know about it then maybe they can get him out safe."
Signs and yellow foam tubes attached to utility poles show support for Johnson and his family, June 15, 2004, in Eagelswood Twp., N.J.