Patrick Stevenson, a 20-year-old man from the Gold Coast, has been detained in north-western Syria for nearly seven months, accused of the shooting murder of Abdullah Glen Charles Burgess, 40, from northern New South Wales. According to Syrian authorities, Burgess was shot dead in his home in the town of Darkush in Idlib province on December 31, 2025, while his wife and daughters were in another room.

Stevenson's mother, Angela Bell, expressed frustration with the Australian federal government's lack of progress in the case. She told ABC Australia News that Australian officials had informed her that diplomatic efforts had gone nowhere and that she was disappointed by her dealings with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Bell highlighted that no official paperwork or documents explaining the charges had been received from Syria, and there was no access to her son.

Stevenson left Australia on October 10, 2025, flying to Bali before traveling to Syria. A 2025 psychiatric report noted that he has learning disorders, ADHD, and probable autism spectrum disorder. According to his family, Stevenson converted to Islam during his final year of high school in 2023.

Separately, community member Mr. Rana said that Burgess had told others around 2024 that his family planned to move to Malaysia to live in a Muslim community and learn more about the faith.

Bell criticized the Australian government's approach, stating that officials often cited policy that Stevenson should not have been traveling to Syria, which she said was where conversations stalled. She added that officials frequently used the term "limited" to describe their capacity to assist, implying a lack of effective support.

The family continues to seek clarity and progress as Stevenson faces a possible death penalty in Syria.

Sources