ISIS-Beatle sentenced to life in prison for torturing and killing hostages, DISAPPEARS from US prison system

One of the so-called “ISIS Beatles,” who is serving a life sentence for torturing and murdering American hostages, has disappeared from the US prison system.

Alexanda Kotey, 39, is no longer being held at Canaan Maximum Security Prison in Pennsylvania, records from the Federal Bureau of Prisons revealed.

The London native was jailed in America last year after pleading guilty to eight criminal charges related to the kidnapping, torture and beheading of Islamic State hostages in Syria in 2021.

Kotey’s disappearance has sparked anger and confusion among family members of his victims, including the daughter of a British aid worker he murdered.

Alexanda Kotey, 39, who is serving a life sentence for torturing and murdering American hostages, has disappeared from the US prison system

Kotey (pictured during his capture by Kurdish officials in March 2018) was jailed in America last year after pleading guilty to eight counts in 2021 of kidnapping, torturing and beheading Islamic State hostages in Syria

Kotey – the terror ring member known as “Jihadi George” – was sent to Canaan in August after admitting eight charges related to the kidnapping, torture and execution of hostages in Syria between 2012 and 2015.

He accepted a plea deal that included “requirements for cooperation” and avoided serving his sentence at the ADX Florence prison – which bears the nickname – in Colorado “Alcatraz of the Rockies”.

Now, less than six months later, the prison system’s website lists him as “not in BOP custody.” It is unclear where Kotey is currently staying.

BOP spokesman Donald Murphy confirmed to The Scottish Daily Record that “Alexanda Amon Kotey is not currently in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons”.

He added that there were “several reasons” why an inmate could be designated as not in the system, but did not disclose why Kotey was given that designation.

“Inmates who have previously been in BOP custody and have not yet served their sentence may be out of BOP custody for a period of time for court hearings, medical treatment, or for other reasons,” Murphy explained.

The spokesman also noted that the BOP does not provide specific details about an inmate for “security or privacy reasons.”

MailOnline has reached out to the BOP, the US Department of State and the UK Foreign Secretary for comment.

However, Kotey is no longer in the maximum security prison of Canaan in Pennsylvania (pictured), records from the Federal Bureau of Prisons revealed. A BOP spokesman said there were “several reasons” why an inmate could be designated as not in the system, but did not disclose why Kotey was given that designation

Now, less than six months later, the prison system’s website lists Kotey as “not in BOP custody.” It is unclear where he is currently staying

Kotey kidnapped her David Haines (left) and witnessed his torture and murder. His daughter Bethany Haines (right, pictured as a teenager) says she believes Kotey is still in the US penal system. She fears the terrorist is “helping the authorities” and wants Kotey returned to a maximum security facility to serve out his entire sentence

Kotey was a member of the so-called “Beatles” terror group that ran a hostage-taking program that captured about two dozen Westerners a decade ago. The hostages called them Beatles because of their English accent.

Their appearance, always in masks, caused the hostages to fear the sadism they were showing. The world was also appalled by their propaganda videos, which showed the victims in orange jumpsuits before being beheaded.

The group is said to have kidnapped and killed 27 people. Among the killers were four Americans and two British, including aid worker David Haines.

His daughter, 24-year-old Bethany Haines, told the Record yesterday that she believes Kotey is still in the US correctional system.

Ms Haines, from Perth, fears the terrorist is “helping the authorities” and wants Kotey returned to a maximum security facility to serve his entire sentence.

“In the past, he was traceable because we have access to data through the US victim reporting system, and at least we had reassurance that he was in a maximum security facility,” she said.

“I don’t want to believe that he managed to negotiate his way into easy treatment by supporting authorities or anything else.”

Ms. Haines met Kotey in person in Virginia last June, where he told her how he had kidnapped her father and witnessed his torture and murder.

The meeting was part of a deal that ensured Kotey could be transferred to a UK prison after 15 years to serve out the remainder of his life sentence.

It’s unclear if Kotey was returned to the UK or is still incarcerated anywhere in the US.

Kotey (pictured in an October 2020 court sketch) was sent to Canaan — “one of the most dangerous prisons” in the US — last year after being convicted on eight counts

The terrorist cell is said to include Kotey, El Shafee Elsheikh (left) and ringleader Mohammed Emwazi (right), known as Jihadi John, who was killed in a drone strike

Kotey was tried in America after being captured by a Kurdish militia in Syria in January 2018.

He was handed over to American forces in Iraq 2020 to the United States, where he was tried in connection with the killing of four American hostages: journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and development workers Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller.

He was sent to Canaan – “one of the most dangerous prisons” in the US – last year after being convicted on eight counts: four of hostage-taking resulting in death; conspiracy to commit a hostage situation resulting in death; conspiracy to murder US citizens outside the US; conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, kidnapping and murder resulting in death; and conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, resulting in death.

The terrorist cell is said to include Kotey, El Shafee Elsheikh and ringleader Mohammed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John, who was killed in a drone strike.

Elsheikh was captured along with Kotey in Syria by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in 2018 while attempting to flee to Turkey.

He, who was also sentenced to life imprisonment in the United States last August after a A jury convicted him of murderous hostage-taking and other crimes.

US authorities agreed not to impose a death sentence under a deal that secured the extradition of Elsheikh and Kotey.