Journalist Michael Scott Moore freed by Somali pirates

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- A German-American journalist who grew up in Southern California has been freed after being held hostage by Somali pirates for almost three years.

Michael Scott Moore, 45, was abducted in January 2012 while researching a book about piracy. A pirate commander said a deal was reached with negotiators after a $1.6 million ransom was paid.

Immediately after his release on Tuesday, Moore was taken to the Somali capital for medical and psychological evaluation and then transported to the German Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.

"He said he was OK. He had a little skin rash and other than that, I don't think he has any serious medical issues," said Moore's stepfather, Lou Saunders.

During the time he was held hostage, Moore's kidnappers released photos of him periodically. He had been held in several different locations to avoid being found, according to a pirate commander.

Moore grew up in Redondo Beach and attended high school in neighboring Manhattan Beach. He once worked for the German weekly Der Spiegel. At the time of his kidnapping, Moore was researching a book on piracy thanks to a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

"We're grateful to all the people who have worked so long to bring about Michael's release and thrilled that he and his family can be reunited at last," John Sawyer, executive director of Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, told Der Spiegel.