The parents of the late American hostage Kayla Mueller say they were told by American officials that their daughter was repeatedly forced to have sex with Abu Bakr Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State group.
Mueller was abducted while working in Syria in 2013. Officials said they received information about the abuse from two Yazidi girls who were held hostage with Mueller.
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The 26-year-old from Prescott was held for a time by Islamic State financier Abu Sayyaf and his wife. According to reports, Al-Baghdadi would rape Mueller when he visited. The parents of Kayla Mueller family spoke to the Associated Press today.
"They told us that he married her, and we all understand what that means," said Carl Mueller.
Family friend Kathleen Day called the entire situation "sickening", and said the family is holding up. When asked about how the family reacted when hearing the news in June, "We were all crushed, just crushed for what she endured," said Day.
Day called Mueller strong and made sure she mentioned how the young woman protected other girls she met while being held hostage.
"It's important for us to understand what these hostages endure," said Day.
KAYLA REMEMBERED: Community remembers Kayla Mueller
Dr. Todd Geiler called Al-Baghdadi, "the head of a rattlesnake", that's needs to be dealt with. Geiler was saddened when he heard the news, but said it did not surprise him that Kayla Mueller kept the abuse secret from her family.
"She didn't want to upset them," said Geiler.
If she had lived Kayla Mueller would have turned 27 years old August 14th.
