The Mother of an American Journalist held by Islamic State militants has issued a Video Plea to the group's leader, asking that he spare her son's life. In a Video obtained by the New York Times, Shirley Sotloff directs her message to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State, whom she addresses with his self-proclaimed title, caliph. In the video, Sotloff says ""I ask you please to release my child. I ask you to use your authority to spare his life." Steven Sotloff, who has worked for Time magazine among others, went missing in Syria around one year ago. A masked militant threatened his Life in an Aug. 19 Video after beheading a**ther American journalist, James Foley.