Parents of Kayla Mueller Ask Trump to Help Recover Daughter’s Remains from Syria

The parents of Kayla Mueller, a U.S. aid worker killed by ISIS in 2015, have written an emotional plea to former President Donald Trump, urging him to use an upcoming meeting with Syria’s interim president to help recover their daughter’s remains.

In a letter shared with Fox News Digital, Carl and Marsha Mueller called Trump’s planned meeting with Ahmed al-Sharaa “a providential opportunity” to close a painful chapter that has lasted a decade. Al-Sharaa’s visit to Washington marks his first since taking power following the collapse of the Assad regime, representing a significant shift in Syrian politics.

“Ten long years have passed since our daughter’s body found its resting place, unmarked and unknown, somewhere in the crimson folds of Syria’s hills,” the Muellers wrote. “Kayla’s body has not been returned home to us; her story remains incomplete.”

Kayla Mueller, a 26-year-old humanitarian from Arizona, was kidnapped by ISIS in 2013 while assisting Syrian refugees near the Turkish border. She was held captive and reportedly abused by ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi before being killed in 2015. Despite multiple efforts over the years, her remains have never been recovered, leaving her family without closure.

The Muellers’ relationship with Trump dates back to his first administration when he ordered Operation Kayla Mueller in 2019, which led to the death of al-Baghdadi in northern Syria. The family appeared with Trump at the 2020 Republican National Convention, where they credited him for “delivering the iron fist of justice against unspeakable evil.”

Recent developments in Syria have renewed hope for the Mueller family. The fall of the Assad regime and establishment of an interim government have created new diplomatic channels. The Muellers highlighted growing regional cooperation aimed at locating missing Americans in their letter.

Arizona Republican Representative Abe Hamadeh has personally taken up the Mueller case, even traveling to Damascus to advocate for Kayla’s return. “I was sworn into Congress with my hand resting on Kayla Mueller’s Bible, with my family and Kayla’s parents standing by my side,” Hamadeh said in a statement. “I vowed to them that I would do everything I could to bring her home.”

The timing of Trump’s meeting with al-Sharaa is particularly significant as it represents one of the first high-profile diplomatic engagements with Syria’s new leadership. For families of Americans missing in conflict zones, such meetings can be crucial in prioritizing recovery efforts that might otherwise be sidelined during political transitions.

“The Assad regime has fallen, and with new leadership brings new opportunity to write the final chapter on Americans still missing in Syria,” the Muellers wrote, expressing optimism that this diplomatic opening could finally bring results.

The recovery of remains from conflict zones often involves complex negotiations, intelligence gathering, and coordination between multiple agencies. In regions previously controlled by terrorist organizations like ISIS, locating and identifying remains can be especially challenging due to deliberate concealment and the passage of time.

For the Mueller family, this diplomatic opportunity represents more than just political significance—it’s deeply personal. Their letter describes Trump’s upcoming meeting as “a defining moment” both for U.S. foreign policy and for their decade-long quest for closure.

“Your meeting is sure to inspire real hope across Syria’s war-torn streets. Bringing Kayla’s body home will do the same for every American heart,” the Muellers concluded. “This is a moment to reaffirm America’s resolve: that we never abandon our own. One more push could bring Kayla home.”

The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by families of Americans killed in overseas conflicts and the diplomatic complexities involved in repatriating remains, particularly from regions that have experienced regime change and prolonged instability.