Family of U.S. hostage of Islamic State says hopeful she is still alive

[World News]

(Reuters) - The parents of an American humanitarian worker held hostage by Islamic State since August 2013 said on Friday they are hopeful she is still alive, after the group said she was killed in a bombing by Jordanian fighter jets. Carl and Marsha Mueller, the parents of Kayla Jean Mueller, asked the Islamic State group to contact them privately, according to a statement released by a family representative. "This news leaves us concerned, yet, we are still hopeful that Kayla is alive," they said in the message. In a message directed to "those in positions of responsibility for holding Kayla," they said: "You told us that you treated Kayla as your guest, as your guest her safety and well-being remains your responsibility." Mueller was the last-known American hostage held by Islamic State, which controls wide areas of Syria and Iraq.

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