Four days after the Islamic State claimed that its last American hostage, Kayla Mueller, had been killed, the White House and her family confirmed the sad news.
Back on Friday, a statement from ISIS, also known as ISIL, claimed that Mueller was killed, but did not include a picture of her body. Instead, the statement included pictures of a bombing site in Raqqa in northern Syria. The militant group said that she was killed in a coalition airstrike.
Mueller’s family, who had previously asked that the U.S. government not release her name, had held out hope that she was still alive. However, today, they sent a statement to the media today confirming that they were told that the Arizona native has died.
“We are heartbroken to share that we've received confirmation that Kayla Jean Mueller, has lost her life,” her parents said, reports NBC News. “Kayla was a compassionate and devoted humanitarian. She dedicated the whole of her young life to helping those in need of freedom, justice, and peace.”
President Barack Obama also released a statement, writing, “It is with profound sadness that we have learned of the death of Kayla Jean Mueller. On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I convey our deepest condolences to Kayla’s family - her parents, Marsha and Carl, and her brother Eric and his family - and all who loved Kayla dearly. At this time of unimaginable suffering, the country shares in their grief.”
"The United States will find and bring to justice the terrorists who are responsible for Kayla’s...death,” Obama added.
"The United States will find and bring to justice the terrorists who are responsible for Kayla’s...death." —Obama pic.twitter.com/bqnFABLJcn
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 10, 2015
Mueller was captured in Syria in August 2013 while helping Spanish Doctors Without Borders. The White House did not confirm how she died.
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