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Kassig Was Adopted, Birth Family Breaks Silence

By Gretchen Frazee

Posted November 20, 2014

Indianapolis native Abdul-Rahman Kassig, the most recent Westerner beheaded by ISIS militants, was adopted, his parents confirmed Thursday.

"We proudly acknowledge that we adopted our son, Abdul-Rahman Peter Kassig, as a newborn. We have always been, and will always be, grateful that his birthmother, Rhonda Schwindt, chose us to be his parents," the Kassigs said in a statement. " We know that she and Peter's siblings, Jana and Sam Schwindt, share in our grief."

The statement comes after the IndyStar published a story for which they spoke to the Swindts.

In the article, the Swindts say Kassig sought out his younger siblings and biological mother when he turned 18.

Jana, now 20, and Sam, now 18, also describe their experience of grieving in silence while their big brother was held captive, tortured and eventually beheaded by a group whose tactics are so extreme, they have been denounced even by al-Qaida.

Although they knew Kassig, 26, for only eight years, they developed a close bond.

Kassig penned a letter to Jana while in captivity, one of only two he sent while he was held hostage.

Sam had a video chat planned with Peter a day or two before his capture by militants in October 2013, but canceled because he was hanging out with friends. The regret still haunts him today.



Abdul-Rahman Kassig was known as Peter Kassig before converting to Islam. The Kassigs say he converted while in captivity but had been interested in Islam while he was an aid worker in the Middle East.

The IndyStar says it will publish more of the Schwindts' story after Kassig's memorial services this weekend.

In a Facebook post dated Nov. 11, Rhonda Schwindt wrote, "I want my son Peter home safely."

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