1. ALLEGATION THAT MR. WILLIAM F. NICHOUS IS ALIVE AND MAY SOON BE RELEASED <SANITIZED>

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06708817
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: November 27, 2017
• Case Number: F-2017-00199
• Publication Date: February 14, 1977

�
--
Approved for Release: 2017/11/07 C06708817
sr EmoT REIvAsABLE To FOREIcN NATIONALS--NOT RELEASABLE
CON1RACTIIR. IR CONTRACTOR/CONSULTANTS- iSSEMINATION
AND EXTRACTION OF INFORMTION CONTROLLED BY ORIGIN,�Tno
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WAsiw4Grot4, , vv;
(b)(3)
KARNINt;
SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED
Ar
"EXCLUM"01" OFuratiT
ois u fits__ 14 FE8 1977
MEMORANDUM FOR: Ambassador Douglas L. Heck
Director of the Office for
Combatting Terrorism (M/CT)
FROM: William W. Wells
Deputy Director for Operations
SUBJECT: 1. Allegation that Mr. William F.
Nichous is Alive and May Soon
Be Released
2.
THIS DOCUMENT WILL DE SHO�
CIA REQUESTi-_-:BS. CUPH.S A f iOT BE CIT.:11 1
TO ANYONF D3 CU).
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
1.
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
2.
the group of
kidnappers who abducted
and some of its members,
Niehous
is beginning to break up
are severing
their connections with the group. (WM
Nichous is still alive and those holdtng him plan to rc1ea5q1DX3)
him in the near future.
3. Niehous will be released because
the. kidnappers are no longer receiving any favorable pub-
licity; rather, what little publicity they do receive is
unfavorable, and they arc Considered by the general public
to be sadistic because ol the suffering inilicted on the
victim's wife and family. In Ndditinn, the kidnappers
have received no money and, iii
vic;.: (it' the hard-line
position of the Venezuelan Government, see little chance
Classified by Sign
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2017/11/07 C06708817
Approved for Release: 2017/11757-606708817
WCRHT/NOT RlillIASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONW-NOT RELEASABLE
TO CONTRACTOW JR CONTRACTOR/CONSULTANTS �ISSEMINATION
. AND EXTRACTION'OF INFORMATION CONTROLLED BY OR
WARNING NOTICE
SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED
of acquiring any ransom. They view continuing to hold
Niehous as increasingly dangerous to their own safety
and also they continue to he saddied with the expenses
Of holding Niehous captive.
� 4.
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
6.
claims that Niehous is alive and
playing cards with his captors at
in the Caracas metropolitan arc:1.
spends most of his time
a location somewhere
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
7. Comment: These are believed to be the
(b)(1)
(h)cl)
first reports in many months which allege that Mr. Niehor
is alive.
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
2
OrnsIrT
Approved for Release: 2017/11/07 C06708817
Approved for Release: 2017/11/07 C06708817
SnCRET/NOT REI/'-'SABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONAU---NOT RELEASABLE
TO CONTRACTORS OR CONTRACTOR/CONSULTANTS-0ISSEMINATION
AND EXTRACTION OF INFORMATION CONTROLLED BY ORIGINATOR.
WARNING NOTICE
SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCI AND METHODS INVOLVED
It should be kept in mind that M(1)
as the 27 February 1977 anniversary date of the kidnapping (b)(3)
approaches many reports may surface which arc of a dubious
and conflicting nature.)
R.
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
/iv rn-7:ond A. W3rrela 4"
William W. wells
(b)(3)
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2017/11/07 C06708817