Report: Islamic State Attempting to Sell James Foley’s Body for $1 Million

The Islamic State is attempting to sell the body of dead U.S. hostage James Foley for $1 million, multiple sources told BuzzFeed in a report published Wednesday night.

The unidentified sources, described by BuzzFeed as middlemen with ties to the terror group, said the Islamic State is looking for the money in exchange for Foley's remains.

Foley was beheaded by the terror group earlier this year. A video titled "A Message to America" was posted online in mid-August showing the photojournalist being killed by a militant.

In this photo taken Oct. 28, 2014, two Jordanian men walk past graffiti depicting the flag of the Islamic State group with Arabic that reads, "There is only one God and Muhammad is his prophet," in the city of Ma'an, Jordan. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

One of the sources said he was approached by an Islamic State leader who asked him to work on a possible deal with either the U.S. government or Foley's family.

“They ask for $1 million, and they will send DNA to Turkey, but they want the money first,” he told BuzzFeed. “They will not give the DNA without the money.”

The middleman added that he was motivated by a desire to help provide closure to Foley's family and described his work as "a humanity case."

A representative for the State Department told BuzzFeed they are "seeking more information" on the report. A senior U.S. diplomat added that the idea, if true, is "disgusting."

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