Wisconsin reporter Shelly Kittleson shares story of captivity in Iraq

Mount Horeb journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped in Baghdad in late March 2026, posted this profile photo on her public LinkedIn page (photo courtesy LinkedIn).

Wisconsin journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped and held captive for eight days earlier this year in Iraq, shared her story with The Atlantic magazine.

Portions of it were republished April 23 in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and USA Today Network-Wisconsin.

In the article, “If I tried to escape, I would be killed. A kidnapping in Iraq,” published in The Atlantic on April 23, Shelly Kittleson writes about her experiences being taken March 31, having her wrists and ankles zip-tied and being blindfolded. She was released on April 8.

Read the full story on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel website here.