Kidnapped by her father at 7, Lauren Burns shares story of rescue, redemption
Lauren Burns had resigned herself to the possibility that she would never see her mother again. Three months after her father took her from Texas to Jordan when she was 7 years old, Burns was sitting on a school bus on her way to class when a commotion erupted outside. Then, through the window, she
Never-before-seen images from inside North Korea reveal haunting devastation of 90s famine
Harrowing images from inside North Korea revealed the abject poverty and widespread starvation that hit the Hermit Kingdom during the 1990s famine — including children who wasted away quietly inside their homes. The photos, captured by humanitarian Kathi Zellweger and journalist Mike Chinoy, included images of orphans so malnourished that their ribs were clearly visible
Swiss Aid Worker’s Rare Footage Reveals Hidden Life Inside North Korea
For nearly a quarter-century, Swiss aid worker Kathi Zellweger traveled to one of the world’s most closed-off countries, delivering food, seeds and medical supplies while quietly documenting life far beyond the polished image North Korea presents to the outside world. Now, previously unseen footage she captured during those years is offering a rare look inside
Erin Burnett Speaks With Kathi Zellweger
CNN’s Erin Burnett recently had Kathi Zellweger on OutFront to discuss her recently published book chronicling her life providing aid to North Korea. Miss Kathi is available in bookstores now. Click here to watch the full interview. Click here to learn more about the book.
Focusing on the vulnerable
For everyone who has worked in and around North Korea, Kathi Zellweger has been a role model. As the director of international operations at the Catholic charity, Caritas, she oversaw food aid to North Korea in the 1990s when it was overwhelmed by famine. Later, she worked in Pyongyang for the Swiss government on various
7-Year-Old Was Abducted by Dad on Halloween Outing, Then Rescued by Commandos Hired by Mom
Don Feeney knew he was running out of time. It was Jan. 28, 1988, and early that morning he and JD Roberts, another retired U.S. Special Forces soldier, had grabbed 7-year-old Lauren Burns from a school bus in the small city of Jerash, Jordan. The men were hired by Burns’ mother, Cathy Mahone, to retrieve
America’s Next Top Model Contestant Shannon Stewart Reveals New Book Out of Focus
Former America’s Next Top Model runner-up Shannon Stewart is shedding light on her life behind the show’s facade. Stewart’s new memoir, Out of Focus, details her de facto identity on ANTM as the “good girl,” a young woman with “big dreams, strong faith and a picture-perfect identity to protect,” a synopsis reads. But beneath the
Inside Israel’s High-Stakes Fight From October 7 To The Heart Of Tehran
The following is an excerpt from the new book, In the War Room: The Inside Story of Israel’s Fight Against Hamas and the Iranian Axis, by Yonah Jeremy Bob and Elliot Kaufman, published by Wicked Son. How did Iran’s regime, the master of proxy warfare, come to engage in open fighting with its more powerful
RAPT Interviews: Lauren Burns
Lauren Burns is a speaker, author and physical therapist living in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband and two sons. She’s the author of Stolen: A True Story – Kidnapped, Rescued, Redeemed, releasing September 8, 2026, in which she shares the story of her kidnapping and eventual rescue that began a lifelong journey toward healing
She Had to Forgive Her Kidnapper. This Is Her Story
One October day in 1987, when Lauren was seven-years-old, her father, Ali, who’d had her for the weekend along with his new wife, reminded Cathy that he’d take her to school that day. Cathy decided to go have lunch with her daughter, arrived at the school, and asked for Lauren. The teacher told her that