After President Donald Trump announced Sunday that Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a U.S. military raid in Syria, 12 News spoke with the parents of Kayla Mueller.
Mueller is the humanitarian aid worker from Prescott who was taken hostage in Syria in August 2013 and later killed by ISIS.
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Her parents Carl and Marsha Mueller are relieved to hear the news of al-Baghdadi's death.
“This man, al-Baghdadi, kidnapped my daughter, held her for 18 months, she was held in solitary confinement, she was held in many prisons,” said Carl Mueller. “She was ultimately raped by al-Baghdadi and killed by him or someone in his organization.”
But they said this is not the end of the story.
"This is just another piece of the puzzle. What still needs to be done is we need to know what happened to Kayla and bring her home," Carl said.
Mueller was a Prescott native and attended Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff before traveling the world as a humanitarian aid worker.
Her father said women Kayla was in contact with who were ransomed out told him she was held in many cold, dark places.
"She'd be kept in this confined area where at one point she couldn’t even stretch out. Now she was in a bigger room with these three women and she was trying to exercise and do push-ups and get her self strong, thinking she was coming home," Marsha said.
Islamic State terrorists emailed Carl and Marsha as the couple worried about whether they'd get a chance to see their daughter again.
"They tortured us with their emails, and they reveled in it," Carl said.
As the parents lived out their worst nightmare, they said they felt neglected by Obama's administration.
"At that time, ISIS was being more truthful to us than the last administration," Marsha said.
Kayla was ultimately killed by the Islamic State group in 2015. Since then, her parents have been desperate to find out where and how their daughter was murdered.
Carl Mueller said they have been pretty quiet for almost six years now and it’s time they came forward.
“Somebody knows what happened to Kayla,” he said. “Somebody knows where she’s buried … that’s why it’s so critical for us to speak out.”
They want answers. Marsha Mueller tells 12 News it’s been a horrific year, so they are searching for her.
"Once Kayla is home, and once I truly know what happened to her, then I will be able to cry," Marsha said.
“Anyone in the world who has information, please help bring her home,” she said. “We are still actively pursuing more information and trying to get her home.”
Marsha said they're searching for answers because Kayla would want people to know what is going on in Syria and help people who are captive right now get home.
"We do this for Kayla because Kayla would do it for us," Marsha said.
The Muellers are thankful their daughter and others who were killed or tortured by ISIS are still being remembered.
They both had messages they wish their daughter could hear.
"Hey, sweetheart, we’re still working at it. We're going to find you and bring you home," Marsha said.
"I'd just tell her we’re still proud of her," Carl said.
Kayla’s dad said they are hoping President Donald Trump will step up and do what Obama did not do. But no matter what happens, they will not give up.
"Know if he’s gone and we’re still doing this, we are going to work our way up to the next guy," Carl said.
