Two college students, both United States citizens, have been released from a Danish jail nearly two weeks after they were detained while visiting Copenhagen on their spring break, police said Monday.
Owen Ray, a 19-year-old studying at Miami University of Ohio, and his unnamed friend were detained at Copenhagen Airport on April 1 over an alleged dispute with an Uber driver the night prior, Jordan Finfer, a U.S.-based attorney for Ray’s family, told ABC News.
They were released from jail on Monday, Copenhagen police confirmed to ABC News. They remain in Denmark, with Ray’s family saying that Danish authorities took their passports.
“We are relieved that Owen has been released from a Danish prison following the unprovoked assault he and his friend suffered at the hands of an Uber driver on March 31,” his parents, Andy Ray and Sara Buchen-Ray, said in a statement. “The facts make clear that Owen is the victim in this case, and we urge Danish officials to allow him to return home to the United States without delay.”
In an account relayed to Finfer, who then shared the details with ABC News, Ray said he and a friend were in an Uber on March 31 when they realized they had entered the wrong address for their destination — and the driver allegedly refused to take them anywhere else.
All parties — Ray, the friend and the Uber driver — eventually got out of the car, and an altercation then allegedly occurred, Finfer said, based on Ray’s account.
Finfer says Ray told him the driver kicked Ray in the groin, and in response, Ray pushed him away and the driver fell, the attorney recounted, adding that Ray and his friend then ran away.
The two students were detained at Copenhagen Airport the next day while trying to return home, Finfer told ABC News. Local police detained them after deeming them “flight risks,” claiming they were planning to run from the incident, he said.
Andy and Sara Buchen-Ray said their son and his friend “did nothing to instigate the attack.”
“We urge the Danish authorities to recognize Owen’s innocence and release him immediately,” they said. “Our family is heartbroken, and we want our son home to celebrate Easter with us this week.”
Owen Ray traveled to Denmark for spring break in March 2025.
Ray Family
Copenhagen police said the two students were charged with common assault.
They were initially sentenced to 10 days pre-trial detention, which was subsequently extended until April 24, a Copenhagen police spokesperson said prior to the students’ release.
An Uber spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News on Sunday that the “safety of everyone who uses the Uber app is a top priority, and we take reports of violence very seriously.”
“Any additional questions about the investigation should be directed to the Danish police,” the statement added.
The U.S. State Department provided a statement on Sunday saying, “We are aware of media reports of two U.S. citizens detained in Denmark. Staff at our embassy in Copenhagen are providing consular assistance,” according to Chicago-based ABC affiliate WLS.
“The Department has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens abroad,” it continued. “Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment.”
ABC News’ Benjamin Siu contributed to this report.
