Confirmation and Grief: The death of ISIS hostage Kayla Mueller

WASHINGTON - The U.S. government has confirmed that Kayla Mueller, a 26-year-old American woman held hostage by the Islamic State in Syria, was killed, reaching that conclusion after the group sent pictures of her body to her family.

"We are heartbroken to share that we've received confirmation that Kayla Jean Mueller has lost her life," her parents said in a statement Tuesday. "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."

In a statement, President Obama said that "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 of those who loved Kayla dearly. At this time of unimaginable suffering, the country shares in their grief."

The Islamic State announced Friday that Mueller was killed when a Jordanian fighter jet bombed the building where she was being held in the north-central Syrian city of Raqqa, the group's de facto capital. It was the first time the Islamic State, a radical al-Qaeda offshoot also known as ISIS or ISIL, had acknowledged publicly that it was holding the young woman.

Mueller's family received an e-mail message over the weekend with "additional information about her death," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said. That information was shared with the intelligence community, which "concluded that Kayla has, in fact, died."

The information available to intelligence officials, Earnest said, "did not allow them to arrive at a conclusion about her precise cause of death" or when it occurred. He and other U.S. officials said they would not provide details of the pictures her family received "out of respect for the family."

U.S. and Jordanian officials have expressed strong skepticism that she was killed in an airstrike. Earnest repeated earlier Jordanian statements that the target hit in the Friday strike by the Jordanian air force - a building that militants showed in photographs posted online at the time they announced Mueller's death - was a "weapons compound" near Raqqa that had also been hit in earlier strikes.

"The information that we have, because this airstrike was coordinated with the United States military, is that there was no evidence of civilians in the target area prior to the coalition airstrike taking place," Earnest said.

Mueller, of Prescott, Ariz., was abducted in August 2013 after leaving a hospital in the Syrian city of Aleppo. She had traveled to the region in late 2012 to help refugees trying to escape the civil war in Syria.

Mueller is the fourth American since August to die while being held hostage by the Islamic State. The group is still holding a British journalist.

Mueller's parents had held out hope that their daughter was alive, issuing a statement Friday to her captors. "This news leaves us concerned, yet, we are still hopeful that Kayla is alive," the family said. "We have sent you a private message and ask that you respond to us privately. We know that you have read our previous communications."

The Mueller family also revealed Tuesday that their daughter had written a letter in the spring of 2014 in which she talked about the conditions of her captivity. She said she had come to terms with her situation but had not given up hope.

"None of us could have known it would be this long but know I am also fighting from my side in the ways I am able + I have a lot of fight left inside of me," she wrote. "I am not breaking down + I will not give in no matter how long it takes."

The family of Kayla Jean Mueller said Tuesday it had received confirmation that she died while being held by Islamic State extremists. The Mueller family released a letter it said she had written last year. Here is the text, as provided by the family, which also redacted some portions:

Everyone, If you are receiving this letter it means I am still detained but my cell mates (starting from 11/2/2014) have been released. I have asked them to contact you + send you this letter. It's hard to know what to say. Please know that I am in a safe location, completely unharmed + healthy (put on weight in fact); I have been treated w/ the utmost respect + kindness. I wanted to write you all a well thought out letter (but I didn't know if my cell mates would be leaving in the coming days or the coming months restricting my time but primarily) I could only but write the letter a paragraph at a time, just the thought of you all sends me into a fit of tears.

If you could say I have "suffered" at all throughout this whole experience it is only in knowing how much suffering I have put you all through; I will never ask you to forgive me as I do not deserve forgiveness. I remember mom always telling me that all in all in the end the only one you really have is God. I have come to a place in experience where, in every sense of the word, I have surrendered myself to our creator b/c literally there was no else ... + by God + by your prayers I have felt tenderly cradled in freefall. I have been shown in darkness, light + have learned that even in prison, one can be free. I am grateful. I have come to see that there is good in every situation, sometimes we just have to look for it. I pray each each day that if nothing else, you have felt a certain closeness + surrender to God as well + have formed a bond of love + support amongst one another. I miss you all as if it has been a decade of forced separation. I have had many a long hour to think, to think of all the things I will do w/ Lex, our first family camping trip, the first meeting (at) the airport. I have had many hours to think how only in your absence have I finally (at) 25 years old come to realize your place in my life.

The gift that is each one of you + the person I could + could not be if you were not a part of my life, my family, my support. I DO NOT want the negotiations for my release to be your duty, if there is any other option take it, even if it takes more time. This should never have become your burden. I have asked these women to support you; please seek their advice. If you have not done so already, (REDACTED) can contact (REDACTED) who may have a certain level of experience with these people. None of us could have known it would be this long but know I am also fighting from my side in the ways I am able + I have a lot of fight left inside of me. I am not breaking down + I will not give in no matter how long it takes. I wrote a song some months ago that says, "The part of me that pains the most also gets me out of bed, w/out your hope there would be nothing left." aka-The thought of your pain is the source of my own, simultaneously the hope of our reunion is the source of my strength. Please be patient, give your pain to God. I know you would want me to remain strong. That is exactly what I am doing. Do not fear for me, continue to pray as will I + by God's will we will be together soon.

All my everything,

Kayla

EndText

White House seeks authorization to fight Islamic State militants but does not envision an "enduring offensive combat" role. A4.

From a base in Jordan, the United Arab Emirates joins the air campaign. A4.

The text of Kayla Mueller's letter. A4.

EndText