Leaked thumb drive offers insight into lives of Americans who joined ISIS

A man who calls himself Abu Mohammed and claims to be an Islamic State defector reportedly stole a thumb drive from the terrorist organization and leaked its contents to NBC News, with West Point's Combating Terrorism Center later confirming the information indeed belongs to ISIS's personnel files. Now, a look at the contents has allowed NBC News to identify at least 15 Americans who have left the country to join ISIS overseas.

"They fit no particular pattern," NBC News observes. "Some are from poor Muslim immigrant families. Others had what can be described as privileged backgrounds. Three have Somali backgrounds. One was a Latino convert to Islam. They lived in small towns and cities in New York, Texas, California, and places in between."

Some traveled together, such as Zakia Nasrin and her husband, Jaffrey Khan and younger brother, Rasel Raihan. Raihan was reportedly killed in Syria; according to their families, Nasrin and Khan work together at a hospital in Raqqa and have a 10-month-old daughter.

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Others, like Ridwan al-Haymar, never expressed extreme beliefs before joining ISIS. A 31-year-old who had lived in Virginia, al-Haymar's family was shocked to learn he had entered Syria to become a fighter.

Douglas McCain, 33, was described by classmates as a "goofball" who wanted to be a rapper and loved basketball. He converted to Islam after graduating, and traveled to Syria several years later, where he adopted the name Abu Jihad the American. McCain was killed five months later in battle, leaving behind the message "Islam over everything" on his Twitter page.

Experts estimate that around 250 Americans have tried to join ISIS, but most of them have never left the country. Read about those who have at NBC News.