Mother Of N. Korean Captive 'Joyful,' 'Grateful'

The mother of a man freed after being imprisoned in North Korea for seven months says she's "joyful" and "grateful" that her son is coming home.

Jacqueline McCarthy, the mother of Aijalon Gomes, spoke as she left her Mattapan home and headed to Logan International Airport with up to 20 family members and friends to greet her son. The group prayed and praised God before leaving for the airport.

Gomes called her from an airport in Anchorage, Alaska, earlier and said he's doing well. He was expected to arrive in Boston in the early afternoon.

It's unclear why Gomes, who had been teaching in South Korea, crossed into communist North Korea in January. He was detained and sentenced to eight years' hard labor.

North Korea said this week it would release the 31-year-old Gomes to former President Carter. Gomes was granted amnesty on Friday.