American journalist abducted in Iraq grew up in Wisconsin
DARLINGTON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- An American journalist believed to have been abducted by a terrorist group in Iraq Tuesday grew up in Wisconsin.
Shelly Kittleson is a freelancer who routinely works in the Middle East. She grew up in Darlington, a town of about 2,400 people in the southwest part of the state, according to her mother, Barbara Kittleson.
Kittleson described her daughter as very intelligent and kind. The mother declined to do an on-camera interview, but she spoke briefly with CBS 58 when a reporter showed up at her home in Mount Horeb.
"Journalism is everything to her," Kittleson said. "She's always on."
Shelly Kittleson, 49, graduated from Darlington High School in 1995. Yearbooks at the community's public library show Kittleson participated in math and forensics clubs during her high school years, and she was also a member of the school's National Honor Society chapter.
An old high school classmate of Kittleson, Jeff Boatman, said it's no surprise she became an international reporter.
"She stuck out. She was always a top-of-the-line student, just real quiet," Boatman said. "Shy, kind of, but she always - I don't know, she always made it clear she wanted to get out of here and do her own thing."
Shelly Kittleson was reportedly shoved into a car by members of an Iranian-backed paramilitary group in Baghdad and hasn't been heard from since.
State Department officials say she was warned multiple times of a potential kidnapping plot but chose to keep working.
We know at least one person has been arrested, but Kittleson is still missing. We're told the family is in contact with the FBI.
Darington Community School District Superintendent Cale Jackson confirmed Kittleson attended school in the community.
Jackson said the district would not facilitate interviews Wednesday out of respect for Kittleson's family. The district instead issued a statement.
"Our thoughts are with Shelly and her family during this incredibly difficult time," the statement read. "We are hopeful for her safe return and are keeping her, her loved ones and all those impacted in our thoughts."
In a statement, Al-Monitor, a publication Kittleson contributed to, said:
"We are deeply alarmed by the kidnapping of Al-Monitor contributor Shelly Kittleson in Iraq on Tuesday. We call for her safe and immediate release.
We stand by her vital reporting from the region and call for her swift return to continue her important work."
CBS 58 spoke to the James Foley Foundation, which researches and raises awareness about hostage situations.
The foundation was founded in memory of James Foley, a journalist and Marquette University graduate, who was killed in 2014 while reporting in Syria by ISIS.
"Immediately, when we saw the news yesterday," Elizabeth Richards, the foundation's director of hostage advocacy, said. "Diane Foley, our president and founder, Jim's mother, who founded the foundation three weeks after Jim's murder, started to reach out to all of her contacts within the hostage enterprise and just seeing if there's any way we can help."
Kittleson's mother also said she's in contact with the FBI as U.S. and Iraqi officials try to secure her release. She added her daughter is not married and does not have children.
This is a developing story. Stick with CBS 58 for updates on-air and online.