Elaine Weinstein is sharing details of her nearly four-year struggle to save her husband's life.
The wife of an American hostage mistakenly killed in a U.S. drone strike is now speaking out about her family's nightmare.
Elaine Weinstein reveals the agonizing details of her nearly four-year private struggle to save the life of her husband, Warren.
“I never held life and death in my hands and I’m telling you, I held his life in my hands,” she said to 60 Minutes’ Lesley Stahl in an interview airing Sunday.
“The thing is, my word is the last word. Can you imagine? My word is the last word! I have to decide what to do,” she said.
Stahl asked: “Were you prepared for this?”
Elaine said: “How can you be prepared for this?”
Warren Weinstein was a U.S. contractor in Pakistan who was kidnapped by Al Qaeda in 2011.
His wife revealed she exchanged hundreds of messages with his captors and even paid $250,000 in ransom, but said her efforts did not secure his release.
She admitted her struggle about going public with a plea: “Some said 'shout it from the rooftops' and some said shh, 'don't tell anybody.'”
In April 2015, President Obama made the tragic announcement that Warren was accidentally killed in a drone strike that targeted terrorists.
60 Minutes gave INSIDE EDITION an exclusive look at Warren Weinstein's final, heart-breaking message to his wife.
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“I love you and please give my love to the kids and tell them, no matter what happens, I love them very much, I’ve always been proud of them and I always will be. Love you,” he said to her.
Elaine believes the American government didn't do enough to help her – a criticism that has also been made by the families of journalist James Foley, who was beheaded by ISIS, and kidnapped victim Kayla Mueller, who was accidentally killed in an airstrike in Syria.
Elaine says no one can understand the agony of a loved one facing death and there's nothing you can do.
“People weighing in, calling me, ‘why didn't you do this, why didn't you do that?’ Give me a break,” she said.
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