Funeral Held for Otto Warmbier, Former North Korean Prisoner

Friends, family and members of the public gathered on Thursday in Ohio to say goodbye to an American student who just six died days after being returned to the United States in a coma following 17 months in captivity in North Korea.

Otto Warmbier, 22, was arrested in the reclusive communist country while visiting as a tourist. He was brought back to the United States last week with severe brain damage, in what doctors described as state of 'unresponsive wakefulness,' and died on Monday.

Thousands turned out to pay their respects to Otto at his funeral on Thursday, but many were turned away at the door when Wyoming High School's auditorium reached its capacity of about 2,100.

Warmbier's brother, sister and friends were among those who spoke at the service. A rabbi was officiating at the public service, which was closed to the news media.

Otto’s younger brother Austin told mourners ‘It doesn’t matter where he was or what he was doing, he was always there for you whenever you needed him.

‘It is hard following in Otto’s footsteps. He had a perfect GPA, and was the captain of the soccer team

‘When I used to get in trouble with my parents, Otto would call them from Charlottesville and try to convince them I wasn’t the horrible child they thought I was’ he said as the mourners broke into laughter.

He added: ‘Otto was the most popular, well-liked person I’ve ever met. He could make a friend out of anyone, it doesn’t matter who it was.'

A former teacher of Otto Warmbier said the service was one of love and laughter as his siblings and close friends recalled their times with him.

A mourner signs the guest book at the funeral of Otto Warmbier Thursday morning

The service lasted for about an hour, after which pallbearers brought his casket out and put it in a hearse to start the procession to Oak Hill Cemetery for burial.

Otto's father, Fred Warmbier, followed the casket out of the auditorium holding his wife Cindy's hand. He wore an American flag tie and a blue suit jacket. Cindy Warmbier wore a black dress, and appeared emotional as she left the service.

Wyoming, Ohio has a population of around 8,000. Before the service, one mourner told DailyMail.com: 'Otto was everybody's son or brother. We all feel the pain of Otto's family today and always will.'

Mourners, some dabbing away tears, lined up patiently as officials walked through the queues seeking family and close friends to take them to the front while police said an anti-room would accommodate those unable to enter the service.

As they entered the hall a large white wreath in blue and white colored flowers, the school's colors, in the shape of a Good Luck horse shoe was placed at the front door.

A hearse carrying Warmbier's body is parked in front of the high school before the funeral service on Thursday

Pearl said that Warmbier loved shopping at thrift stores an listening to underground rap music.

‘He loved people and was passionate for life and we’ll keep those memories alive.

'I will always remember his smile and his laughter. He made us believe that life was a game and that you have to live it to the full with a laugh. I was proud to know him,' Pearl added.

Pearl said he is happy that the family were able to get Warmbier home, though their time with him wasn't long. He said they 'have shown a tremendous amount of strength, courage and dignity'.

‘I have great respect for Otto’s parents for the way they have handled this.

‘They have shown no animosity or bore grudges or made a big thing about the country doing more on Otto’s behalf. They have shown grace and they have shown class through out this whole ordeal.

‘We may never know what Otto endured over there, but we do know what a great kid he was and that he was loved,' Pearl said.

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican from the Cincinnati area, told the throng of reporters stationed outside that Warmbier was 'an amazing young man' from a resilient family and that North Korea must be held accountable for what happened to the 22-year-old University of Virginia student, who died Monday.

'This college kid never should have been detained in the first place,' said Portman, who revealed Wednesday that he met secretly with North Korean officials in New York last December to press for Warmbier's release.

He said North Korea's treatment of Otto demonstrated 'a basic disregard for human rights, for human dignity.'

'Today is a somber day. It's also a day to talk about a life...and the impact he made on so many people,' Portman added.

In addition to Portman, three officials from the Trump administration were in attendance Thursday morning.

When asked about allegations that President Obama didn't do enough to try and secure Warmbier's release, Portman refused to dole out blame.

'I do believe that both the Obama Administration and the Trump Administration tried to get Otto home,' he said.

Portman himself had a huge role in trying to free Warmbier. On Wednesday, it was revealed that he even staged a secret meeting with North Korean officials at the United Nations last December.

The U.S. does not officially have relations with the North Koreans, so most of the time communications between the two nations happen through conduit nations, such as Sweden.

During the meeting, Portman urged the North Koreans to let the Swedish ambassador visit Warmbier in Pyongyang, but they refused.