Mother of Utah man freed from Venezuela jail last year dies

A Utah woman who spent nearly two years pushing to get her son freed from a Venezuelan jail has died at age 50.

Former U.S. Rep. Mia Love said Monday Laurie Holt died unexpectedly Sunday at her home in the Salt Lake City suburb of Riverton.

Love says Laurie Holt’s husband Jason Holt went to wake her for church and found her unresponsive.

Love became Holt’s friend while working with other politicians to help win freedom for Josh Holt.

He returned to the U.S. with his Venezuelan wife in May 2018 after being imprisoned for nearly two years on weapons charges that the Holts and U.S. politicians said were invented.

Love says the cause of death is unknown.

Laurie Holt is survived by her husband and four children.