Islamic State privately contacted her family over the weekend. U.S. officials said the family received an email and photo from Islamic State that confirmed she was dead. The details surrounding her death were not revealed. Kayla Mueller was taken hostage in August 2013. U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a statement, “The world is united in condemning ISIL’s continued murder and imprisonment of innocents.” President Obama is expected to ask Congress to allow the use of military force to fight the Islamic State group. This would approve continued military operations against the terror group in the Mideast and will clarify the use of ground troops.
