( CNN ) -- The family of a U.S. citizen who was detained last week in North Korea said Monday they are `` anxious for his return , '' according to a written statement . The family of Jeffrey Fowle , 56 , said : `` Jeffrey loves to travel and loves the adventure of experiencing different cultures and seeing new places . '' Fowle has been married for 14 years and has three children , the statement said . According to CNN affiliate WDTN , he was detained for leaving a Bible where he was staying . `` Mrs. Fowle and the children miss Jeffrey very much and are anxious for his return home , '' the family said . They confirmed Fowle , who is from Miamisburg , Ohio , was part of a tour group that went to North Korea . On Friday , the secretive state , without going into detail , said through a state-run news agency that Fowle had been detained for breaking a law . The U.S. State Department said it was `` aware of reports that a third U.S. citizen was detained in North Korea . '' But it declined to provide any further information , saying it could n't share details about specific cases without written consent from an individual . Other Americans held . North Korea said in late April it was holding a different American man , who it said came to the country seeking asylum . He tore his tourist visa and shouted that `` he would seek asylum '' and `` came to the DPRK ( North Korea ) after choosing it as a shelter , '' state-run news agency KCNA said . KCNA identified that man as Miller Matthew Todd , who it says was taken into custody on April 10 . American sources identified him as Matthew Todd Miller . The U.S. State Department said at the time that it was aware of the report and had been in touch with Sweden , which represents American interests in North Korea , about the matter . It declined to disclose any further information . North Korea is also holding Kenneth Bae , a Korean-American missionary who was sentenced to 15 years hard labor in 2013 by a court that said he had carried out acts aimed at bringing down the regime of leader Kim Jong Un . Although North Korea contains a number of state-controlled churches , the totalitarian regime forbids independent religious activities , viewing them as potential threats to its authority .
Several other Americans have been killed in North Korea . Jeffrey ##s is married with three children . His family says he loves learning new cultures . North Korea encourages independent religious activities .