Show Of Support For Family Of Miami Journalist Killed By ISIS
PINECREST (CBSMiami) – A steady flow of friends and family are showing support by stopping by the Pinecrest home of journalist Steven Sotloff's parents.
Wednesday morning, U.S. officials confirmed the authenticity of the latest video released by the Islamist extremist group ISIS, which shows the 31-year-old Miami native's brutal execution.
Reporters met briefly Wednesday afternoon with Arthur Sotloff, Steven Sotloff's father, as he watched Barak Barfi, the family's spokesman, read a statement on their behalf.
He was holding two photos of his son. In one photo, Steven Sotloff is wearing a Miami Dolphins' jersey standing alongside his father.
The pictures coincided with Barfi's statement. The statement was not only about how strong and courageous Steven Softloff was, but also about his softer side. He wanted simple life, nothing more than to go to Miami Dolphins' games on Sundays with his family.
Arthur Sotloff was asked if he wanted to say anything, but he replied, "Enough has been said" and added that he did not want to speak anymore.
Click here to watch Peter D'Oench's report.
Members of the Sotloff congregation at Temple Beth Am in Miami are keeping the Sotloff family in their prayers—asking they be allowed to grieve in peace.
"We hope that everybody will pray for the family and be here for the family," said Robert Hersh.
Early Wednesday morning Steven Sotloff's sister's boyfriend expressed his heartache on social media, posting "I can't sleep...I can't concentrate...But most of all I can't bring myself to know that you're no longer with us, Steven," on his Facebook page.
Danielle Berrin, a reporter for the Jewish Journal in Los Angeles, was shocked to see her childhood friend from Jewish day school in the ISIS video.
READ: U.S.: Sotloff Beheading Video Authentic
"I was terribly stricken when I saw it. But that face, the minute I saw his face. I went back to my childhood and I saw that same face that I remember," said Berrin. "I was devastated in an instant."
The Steven Sotloff she remembers was a cheerful eight-year-old boy.
"I remember him as a completely fun loving beautiful spirit, really joyful, kind of goofy, mischievous," said Berrin, "He just like had a glow about him. He was a beautiful soul."
Sotloff graduated from the University of Central Florida and followed his passion for journalism by reporting on the frontlines of war-torn countries.
UCF will honor Sotloff tonight at 9 p.m. with a memorial vigil held on campus.
Matthew Van Dyke, a documentary filmmaker and friend of Steven Sotloff, said he was a cautious journalist who did everything the right way.
"He learned Arabic, he lived in the region for a time, he really got to know the people, the culture. He had a lot of friends and contacts in the region," Van Dyke said. "This was a region that was important to him, he wasn't someone that just jumped from conflict to conflict all over the world, he was sort of a regional specialist and he knew what he was doing."
But unfortunately, Steven Sotloff paid the ultimate price at the hands of ISIS.
"It's absolutely horrible. ISIS are barbarians to have done this and to have done it twice--and perhaps they'll do it again. I reached out to Steve's sister with a message but the family has asked for privacy and I think everybody should respect those wishes," said Van Dyke.
Sotloff's execution has sparked a new interest in Israel, according to Gil Tamary, the Washington Bureau Chief of Channel 10 Israel.
Tamary says Sotloff became a citizen of Israel in 2005, while getting a graduate degree at IDC Herzliya, a university in a Tel Aviv, Israel.
However, Tamary does not believe Sotloff was killed because of his dual citizenship.
"This is a threat to the United States, Europe, Israel. I don't think he was killed because he was Israeli. He was killed because he was an American," said Tamary.
Chris Haddock, a Sotloff family supporter, expressed his grief for the family.
"It's devastating. There are no words. You can't describe what's going on inside their home and what their feeling," said Haddock.
The Sotloff family will hold a memorial service for Steven Sotloff Friday, 1 p.m., at Temple Beth Am.
RELATED CONTENT:
