Kassig's birth family joins adoptive parents in grief

INDIANAPOLIS -- This weekend, Ed and Paula Kassig will pay tribute to their son Abdul-Rahman — the humanitarian worker slain by ISIS — in three public memorial services.

Meanwhile, after grieving in silence for more than a year since Kassig was taken captive, his birth mother and other biological family members are now stepping forward and remembering him in their own way.

To his biological siblings, the Indianapolis native now known to the world as Abdul-Rahman Kassig will always just be "Peter" — the Army Ranger with the goofy grin who used to scare their mother half to death with his awful driving.

Jana Schwindt will always be his "Little Punk." Sam Schwindt will always be his "Little Bro."

On Nov. 16, it was confirmed Kassig was executed by the Islamic State group, more than a year after he was taken hostage during a humanitarian mission to Syria. While in captivity, he converted to Islam and changed his name to Abdul-Rahman.

The Schwindts plan to hold a private ceremony this weekend for family and friends to honor his legacy — not just as Abdul-Rahman, the selfless medic who gave his life to the Syrian cause, but also as Peter, the older brother who loved Sweet Home Alabama, and stayed up late watching Elf with his kid sister.

Kassig's birth family this week ended more than a year of silence, telling Indianapolis Star reporters how Kassig sought out his two younger siblings and biological mother, Rhonda, when he turned 18.

Jana, now 20, and Sam, now 18, grieved 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-Qaeda.

The Kassigs acknowledged on Thursday that they adopted Peter as an infant.

"We have always been, and will always be, grateful that his birth mother, Rhonda Schwindt, chose us to be his parents," they said. "We know that she and Peter's siblings, Jana and Sam Schwindt, share in our grief."

Although the Schwindts 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.