According to FBI authorities, an American kidnapped in Mexico has been found alive after missing for 8 months and is now safely back home.

Monica De Leon Barba, a U.S. citizen, was reported missing on Nov. 29, 2022, and was taken in Tepatitlán, Jalisco, Mexico, as she walked home from work with her dog.

“The FBI is pleased to announce that Monica De Leon Barba is safe and en route to the US where she will be reunited with her family and dog after spending eight months in captivity,” the FBI said in a Twitter post on Saturday.

According to the FBI, Ms. De Leon Barba was released by her captors Friday night.

The FBI previously said it offered up to $40,000 for information leading toward locating Ms. De Leon Barba. The award announcement in March was the FBI’s first public acknowledgment that it had been investigating the kidnapping.

On Saturday, the FBI’s social post said that authorities have made no arrests and continue investigating the captors’ identity.

“The FBI investigation is far from over, but we can now work this case knowing an innocent victim is reunited with her family,” FBI special agent in charge Robert Tripp said in a statement on Twitter.

Ms. De Leon Barba returned home 10 days after her 30th birthday and reunited in the Bay Area with her dog and brother.

“We can finally close this chapter in our lives and work on the long road of healing we have ahead,” her brother, Gustavo De Leon, said in a Facebook post.

According to the released videos, Ms. Barba was last seen walking home from work with her dog in the city of Tepatitlán.

At the time, the videos pinpointed at least five suspects involved in the kidnapping and who drove away separately in three vehicles—a white Chevy Suburban, a gray Dodge Charger, and a silver Volkswagen Jetta, according to the agency.

Mr. Tripp believes the release of the new footage would help bring new leads in the case to finding the 29-year-old California native.

“The FBI is requesting the public’s assistance locating Monica and returning her safely to her family. We believe these videos may help generate new public tips to assist our investigation,” Mr. Tripp said in a statement.

“The FBI is offering a reward of up to $40,000 for information leading to Monica’s recovery. If you know anything, please come forward to law enforcement,” he said.

Ms. Barba’s brother, Gustavo De Leon, said kidnappers had been holding his sister hostage for money since the abduction happened.

“I don’t know of the exact quantity of money that they’re asking for, but I do know that it’s unattainable,” Mr. De Leon said in an interview with ABC 7 News Bay Area.

De Leon said the kidnappers had sent evidence that his sister was still alive.

“They have also sent proof of life. They have sent a video where my sister is pleading for help, which was a long time ago,” he said.

Since her return home, no one has been arrested or charged with her kidnapping. The federal agency is still investigating her captors.

“The FBI investigation is far from over, but we can now work this case knowing an innocent victim is reunited with her family,” Mr. Tripp said in a statement on Saturday. “For the past eight months, FBI personnel in California and Mexico have worked tirelessly with the family and partners here and in Mexico. Our relief and joy at the safe return of Monica is profound.”

Mr. Tripp acknowledged the “investigation is far from over” but thanked the Mateo community for its endless support in helping to find Ms. Barba.

The U.S. State Department has a travel advisory in place for Jalisco. The State Department says people should “reconsider travel” there due to “violent crime and gang activity.”

“In Guadalajara, territorial battles between criminal groups occur in tourist areas. Shooting incidents between criminal groups have injured or killed innocent bystanders. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping,” the advisory says.