This week, Our family lost our father on January 25th, 2026., Gene Hunt – a man who served his country, his community, and his family with unwavering integrity.
Gene was a father, a great uncle, a veteran, and a quiet pillar of strength. He believed deeply in fairness, accountability, and the idea that no family should ever be separated unjustly. Tragically, he passed away without ever getting the chance to see his daughter, Dawn Michelle Hunt, come home.
Dawn has been imprisoned in China for over 12 years.
She did not get to say goodbye to her father. He did not get to see her free.
This loss has been devastating – not only because of the absence it leaves in our family, but because it underscores the urgency of what remains unfinished. Gene’s greatest wish in his final years was simple: to see his daughter reunited with her family, safe and home.
That hope now becomes his legacy.
Our family continues this fight not out of anger, but out of love. We remain committed to advocating for Dawn’s humanitarian release and to bringing awareness to her ongoing wrongful detention. This is not a political issue – it is a human one.
As world leaders continue diplomatic discussions, we respectfully call on all parties to recognize the human cost of prolonged detention. Families should not be forced to grieve milestones, goodbyes, and final moments across borders.
When Donald Trump speaks with Xi Jinping, we ask that Dawn’s case be considered with compassion and urgency, and that her humanitarian release be secured.
Gene Hunt devoted his life to doing what was right, even when it was difficult. We honor him by continuing to stand for Dawn – and for every family still waiting for their loved one to come home.
We will not stop.