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Sandy teen jailed in Mexico; Parents worry for his life
A family from Sandy is making a desperate plea to get their son out of a Mexican jail.

Tommy McDowell's parents thought he was in Las Vegas with his boss, but on Saturday, their 19-year old son called claiming he was in Ensenada and he was in jail and was being repeatedly beaten.

His parents don't know what Tommy is charged with or why he's in jail.

A woman who is apparently acquainted with the family later called left a voice mail asking for 200 dollars in cash she would need to go to Mexico and get their son out of jail, but later she called back saying she needed 500 dollars more.

Later, the woman left another phone message saying she needed 70 thousand dollars, a new truck, and a house in order to secure tommy's release.

The McDowells aren't wealthy, but members of their family do possess some substantial assets. They worry that someone knows about these assets and may be extorting them.

Tommy just graduated from Jordan High School, where he played on the football team.

Tommy's parents did get through to the FBI on Wednesday and an agent agreed to meet with them on Thursday.

Story by: Susan Wood
susan@abc4.tv