The White House has confirmed the death of Kayla Mueller, a Prescott, Ariz., native held hostage by the Islamic State.
Kayla Mueller’s friends and family spoke for the first time Tuesday afternoon. The press conference focused on the aid worker’s life, rather than how she died, which may still be unknown.
Mueller’s aunt Lori Lyon said Mueller was a free spirit who was caring and compassionate.
"Kayla’s calling was to help those who were suffering, whether in her hometown of Prescott or on the other side of the world," Lyon said. "She has done more in her incredible 26 years than many people can ever imagine doing in their lifetime. My daughter said to me, things that were important to Kayla are finally getting the attention they deserve."
Kathleen Day is the head of United Christian Ministry at Northern Arizona University, Mueller’s alma mater. Day said she’s been told that Kayla sang songs while imprisoned and tried to teach her guards how to make crafts. Day said Mueller managed to stay herself throughout the ordeal. She also referenced a previously unreleased letter that Mueller wrote while imprisoned by ISIS.
"And you know, they tried to silence her, they locked her up," Day said. "They kept us silent out of fear. But now she’s free. And she says she found freedom even in captivity. And that she is grateful. So her light shines."
Soon after the announcement was made, Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake took to the Senate floor remembering her as a humanitarian aid worker in Syria.
“We should remember Kayla not for her death, but for her life and for her devotion to the highest calling, dedication to the service of others,” Flake said.
Arizona Sen. John McCain spoke about Mueller on the Senate floor as well.
“I want to express the deepest condolences to Kayla’s parents Marsha and Carl Mueller," McCain said. "To her loving family and many friends, our thoughts and prayers are with you. Kayla devoted her young life to helping people in need around the world, to healing the sick and bringing light to some of the darkest places and most desperate places on earth. She will never be forgotten."
It was reported Friday that she was killed during a Jordanian air strike. Terrorism expert Dr. Richard Bloom with Embry Riddle University said it’s not unusual that it took four days to confirm.
“Often it takes quite a bit of time to have a significant degree of certainty about what is happening in many locations throughout the world where terrorism and people perpetrating terrorism are,” Bloom said.
Mueller was known to be the only remaining U.S. hostage held by the group. However, Bloom said this is not likely the last time a tragic event like this could occur.
“There is way more opportunity for this to happen over and over again,” Bloom said.
Flake added the death of Mueller should be blamed solely on the Islamic State and Congress should authorize a mission against the group.
Mueller was kidnapped by the group after leaving a hospital in Syria in 2013. Mueller is the fourth American to die while being held by Islamic State militants.
KJZZ's Katherine Fritcke, Stina Sieg and Alexandra Olgin contributed to this report.
Updated 2/10/2015 at 4:24 p.m.