An aunt, cousin, grandmother, a friend of many years and the Nicole Lynn Mansfield raised, said links with various, incomplete accounts of the life of the mother are 33-year-old, is the Americans only know that they have died, fighting in Syria. They say some mysterious activity Mansfield, including a trip to the Middle East, they aroused the curiosity of the FBI, who contacted a few years before, to to wonder why Mansfield travelled for a few weeks after Dubai.
"I was completely stunned, stunned that he was to go there and made so climbed and now, far from us to end", the aunt of Mansfield said Monica Mansfield-Speelman, his niece trip to Syria, where more than 70,000 killed in two years of civil war.
Members of the family said that FBI agents Thursday visited and informed themselves about the death of Mansfield. Simon Shaykhet, for the FBI in Detroit, said that he could confirm, Mansfield family of agents, said a spokesman declined but without comment. A pro Syrian Government news agency said Mansfield and other two fighters, a group opposed to the Government of Syria, was killed in a clash in the Northwestern town of Idlib were. The report on the circumstances of the deaths could not immediately be confirmed.
Mansfield was first interested in the Middle East, once introduced a friend to Islam a few years ago, his family said. He sat down with religion, if the relationship to services at a nearby mosque to end. She began also a hijab wear and finally to the family despite their reservations.
Later married, the an immigrant Arabs, divorced and he traveled to Dubai, tells of his family at the time, I wanted to know that Arab culture and politics of the region, said relatives. Although the members of the family of FAQs, Mansfield, who has a daughter aged 18, from a previous relationship, never told the details of his marriage or travel abroad.
Mansfield Speelman, who finally saw his niece in August, said she and other members not approved conversion of the niece of Christianity to Islam and his brief marriage with one man family never knew. The aunt said she did not know the whereabouts of the ex-husband of Mansfield.
His grandmother, Carole Mansfield, said that he remembered to take the trip from Dubai to the warning of the granddaughter of the dangers.
"Had he said, 'Nikki, Nikki, Nikki, you recognize that it seeks a Rattle snake in your face?'" Carole Mansfield said. "'Oh, Grandma," I hear nor his say. "
It was after this trip to Dubai, the family said that the FBI contacted the Mansfield notes. Agents never told relatives who were interested.
A police officer confirmed that Mansfield on the FBI radar had been, before leaving for Syria. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the officer could not publicly talk about the investigation.
The Mansfield, Deidra Mansfield, a cousin said he was close to his cousin makes it grow, but she grew far away, as they assumed their new faith and spent more time away from home. Deidra Mansfield said that she and others attempted unsuccessfully to keep very committed it.
"When he called, she would act like everything was normal on the phone," said.
Mount Mansfield, 22, said his sister "would never open on" Islam with him, but that was the case, she said come out and he like to access it as a little brother when she was at home.
His father, Gregory Mansfield, said that he does not like his decision to convert. Despite his concerns, he said, he took when he needed a place to live for a short time until about a year ago. Greater Mansfield said preventing home to wear a hijab, and "respect".
His brother said that the last time was reported two months ago. She wanted to Wayne State University in Detroit and they texted to say that he wanted to see a movie with him at the end of the winter semester. Said that they had a chance.
One of the close friends of Nicole Mansfield, Tasha Williams of Huntington, Indiana, said that Mansfield to say that to see them on a flight from Turkey to the United States in a few days after a trip to Syria was a man would return to Center. She wanted to be picked up at the airport in Cincinnati.
'' she said that it was in a hotel room. I had away from it all. I never got back from her, '' said Williams.
Williams said that she and Mansfield were certified nursing assistants.
"My boss was a position hold for her in Indiana." This is, where it is necessary to be, right now, suggested ", Williams said.
Old friend could pick up some details about a different life from Mansfield, family members were struggling to learn. Williams said that Mansfield met an online middle man and married at the Grand Canyon in 2007, divorced three years later, when he learned another family had Mansfield.
Although Mansfield passed head, Williams said that he believed that his friend take the weapons would "absolutely not".
"Nicole Mansfield was never in a battle in his life except me." We were 13 and became friends the next day. It is the largest Scaredy cat. ... You acting in any case avoid ", Williams said.
Carole Mansfield is less secure, as she mourned the death of their granddaughter.
"I don't think that ever told the truth", he said.
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Associated Press Mike Householder in Burton, Michigan, reporter Ed White in Detroit and Eileen Sullivan in Washington contributed to this report.
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Jeff Karoub of follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffkaroub
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