Man held captive in Mexico credits faith, prayer for his safe rescue

IDAHO FALLS – The former president of Wada Farms credits the “faith and prayers of thousands” for his safe rescue after being held for ransom for 18 hours in Mexico.

Bob Meek, who recently moved to Utah after being named CEO of Utah Onions Inc., served as a stake president with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Idaho Falls.

Meek tells EastIdahoNews.com he was in Chihuahua, Mexico on a business trip when he received a phone call in his hotel room Thursday evening.

“The men on the phone knew where I was, what hotel room I was in and they demanded a ransom,” Meek says. “For the next 18 hours, we had a conversation and never hung up the phone.”

Meek’s incident is described as a “virtual kidnapping.” He never saw the kidnappers but they continually told him they were outside his hotel room with guns watching his every move.

“They said they would shoot me if I tried to run,” Meek recalls. “They threatened to cut off my body parts, kill me and torture me if I didn’t listen to every word they said.”

At one point, Meek says he was ordered to leave his room and walk to a nearby store to purchase a small, disposable phone. He noticed one of the abductors sitting on a table at the park across the street from the hotel.

“This whole thing could have been a movie,” Meek says. “From 9 p.m. Thursday until 3:30 p.m. Friday, I was scared for my life. We were continually on the phone and speaking with each other every three or four minutes.”

The situation came to an end Friday afternoon when police in Mexico found Meek safe. He declined to elaborate on the circumstances surrounding the rescue but says officers were helpful in assisting him with returning to Utah.

“There weren’t any flights home to Utah from Mexico so I drove to El Paso and was able to secure a private plane home,” Meek says.

Meek says the men holding him captive have not been located. He’s unsure if they ever will be.

He arrived at his Ogden home around midnight Saturday and was greeted by family, friends and neighbors anxious to see him.

“It was overwhelming,” Meek recalls, getting choked up. “Physically I am fine but emotionally…this is a tender time.”

Meek says while he was being held hostage, he “felt the thoughts and prayers of people around the world” – including friends in east Idaho.

“Honestly – from the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank the entire community,” Meek says, holding back tears. “Thousands of people prayed, fasted and put my name on LDS temple prayer rolls. My rescue was a community effort and I can’t thank everyone enough.”