James Foley’s parents had hoped to negotiate with militants

ROCHESTER, N.H. – The parents of slain journalist James Foley say they regarded an email they received from his captors last week as a hopeful sign they could negotiate with Islamic militants.

Foley’s Islamic State captors had demanded $132.5 million from his parents and political concessions from Washington. Authorities say neither obliged. The militants revealed Foley’s death in a video released Tuesday.

Speaking on NBC’s “Today” John and Diane Foley from Rochester, New Hampshire, said they had last heard from the captors via several emails in December. They say they set up a special email address and sent multiple messages to try to engage them.

John Foley said he was excited to see the latest email, even though it threatened execution. He says he had hoped they would be able to negotiate with the captors.

This story was originally published August 22, 2014 at 7:08 AM with the headline "James Foley’s parents had hoped to negotiate with militants."