FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The 25-year-old wife of slain ISIS leader Abu Sayyaf is facing charges in the death of 26-year-old humanitarian aide worker and Prescott native Kayla Mueller.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday a criminal complaint against Nisreen Assad Ibrahim Bahar, aka Umm Sayyaf.
“The charges filed today allege that Umm Sayyaf and others conspired to provide material support to ISIL and that this conspiracy resulted in the death of Kayla Jean Mueller,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin in a press release posted to their website.
On May 15, U.S. forces killed Sayyaf's husband and took her captive where she told FBI agents she helped hold Mueller and others captive at her home on behalf of ISIL.
Sayyaf also told investigators that ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had ownership over Mueller and investigators believe al-Baghdadi raped Mueller while in captivity.
If convicted, Sayyaf will face the maximum penalty of life in prison.
"There are four or five main ways to bring people to justice and, quite frankly, more people are brought to justice than you may think," said Dr. Richard Bloom, a professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and counter-terrorism expert.
In some cases, a suspected terrorist may cooperate when asked or bargained with to give themselves up.
"That might sound surprising, but often they may be in a worse situation than giving themselves up to you," Dr. Bloom said.
Creating sophisticated sting operations that can lure a suspected terrorist, using armed forces in an attack or using technology like drones or intelligence are other tactics.
Dr. Bloom says the biggest area of concern is the spreading of terrorist propaganda that continues to infiltrate the minds of many who will turn to support the extremist views.
