Parents of American woman held by IS notified of her death

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Kayla Mueller, a 26-year-old American woman held by Islamic State militants, has been confirmed dead, her parents and the Obama administration said Tuesday.<br /> <br /> The White House said that Mueller's family received a private message from her captors over the weekend. The information in the message was authenticated by the U.S. intelligence community.<br /> <br /> "We are heartbroken to share that we've received confirmation that Kayla Jean Mueller, has lost her life," Carl and Marsha Mueller said in a statement. "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."<br /> <br /> President Barack Obama said that Mueller, who has worked with Syrian refugees, "epitomized all that is good in our world."<br /> <br /> "No matter how long it takes, the United States will find and bring to justice the terrorists who are responsible for Kayla's captivity and death," the President said.<br /> <br /> The Islamic State group had said last Friday that Mueller died in a Jordanian airstrike.<br /> <br /> Mueller was the only known remaining U.S. hostage held by the Islamic State group. She was taken into captivity in August 2013 while leaving a hospital in Syria.