U.S. Hostage Steen Briefly Escaped in 1987, Polhill Reports

American hostage Alann Steen briefly escaped his Lebanese kidnapers in 1987 and was seriously ill shortly after he was abducted, the Boston Herald reported today.

Robert Polhill, who was released Sunday by Lebanese Shiite Muslim kidnapers, confirmed previous reports of Steen’s failed escape and illness in a telephone conversation with Steen’s wife, Virginia, in Michigan, the newspaper said.

In Orlando, Fla., Steen’s brother, Craig, said he was not surprised that his brother, a former U.S. Marine, sought to escape after being abducted with two other men, including Polhill, from Beirut University, where they were faculty members.

“When you’re captured by an enemy, one of your primary jobs is to try to escape,” Craig Steen said. “Evidently he saw an opportunity and went for it.”