Fate Of Kayla Mueller Still Unknown

The fate of a 26-year-old Prescott woman held hostage by the Islamic State group remains unclear. 

The extremists said Friday that Kayla Jean Mueller died in a Jordanian airstrike, a claim that was dismissed by the Jordanians. 

United States officials said they have yet to see any evidence to corroborate the ISIS claims.

Terrorism expert Richard Bloom of Embry Riddle University says the ISIS goal in claiming Mueller is dead was to gain sympathy.

“Regardless of what really has happened to this woman, with this narrative, all of a sudden it looks like the Jordanian military intervention, not only will it not be successful, it’s actually created an additional casualty,” Bloom said.

Mueller, who was taken hostage more than a year and a half ago as she left a hospital in Syria , is the only known remaining U.S. hostage held by the Islamic State group.