In a distressing turn of events, a US soldier finds himself in custody in Russia on charges of theft of personal property. The soldier's mother, Melody Jones, is convinced that her son was lured to Russia by his girlfriend, Aleksandra Vashchuk. Jones revealed her concerns in an interview with NBC News, expressing her worries about the safety of her son in a country known for the detainment of American citizens.

According to Jones, her son, identified as Gordon Black, was motivated to travel to Russia to see Vashchuk one last time before returning home. Despite her concerns about the Russian government's treatment of Americans, Jones claims that her son was convinced by his girlfriend to make the trip. The couple had been together, on and off, for about a year and a half, having met at a bar where Vashchuk worked.

Jones admitted to having reservations about Vashchuk, whom she had never met in person but had spoken to over Messenger. Her motherly instincts had warned her that something was amiss with her son's girlfriend, adding to her concerns about his journey.

Described as a "good boy with a cute, crooked smile," Black was not only a devoted father to his 6-and-a-half-year-old daughter but also a dedicated soldier with 16 years of experience. He had even acquired fluency in the Russian language. However, his landing in Vladivostok took an unexpected turn when he was abruptly detained upon arriving for allegedly stealing property from an individual referred to as "citizen T." He is now expected to remain in custody for at least two months, leaving his loved ones in agony.

Jones disclosed that her son managed to send her a text message before his communications were cut off. His message reassured her, stating, "Don't worry about me, I'm OK." However, Jones has not received any further communication from officials since the initial call from the State Department informing her of her son's detention.

As the family anxiously awaits more information about Black's situation, Jones shared her concerns about how his absence is affecting his daughter. She revealed that Black used to call her at least once a week to connect with his family, and he was also known to send her flowers on Mother's Day, the most recent being two dozen red roses. This year, however, she doubts there will be any such gesture.

The circumstances surrounding Black's arrest remain unclear, but his mother firmly believes that his girlfriend played a role in luring him to Russia. With no official updates, the family is left in limbo, hoping for a swift resolution to bring Black back home safely.