President Obama met Thursday with the parents and sister of slain American journalist Steven Sotloff, who was beheaded by ISIS thugs last year after getting kidnapped in Syria.

Obama made the stop, which was not on his public schedule, after holding two Democratic Party fundraisers Wednesday night in Florida and visiting the National Hurricane Center.

Obama expressed condolences and “appreciated the chance to hear from the Sotloffs more about Steven’s work as a journalist, including his passion for bringing the stories of people who are suffering to the rest of the world…,” said National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan.

After Sotloff’s death, family spokesman Barak Barfi complained that the family didn’t believe the administration “was doing anything to help us,” and had discouraged ransom payments, which violate US law. The United States has been reviewing its hostage policy since November.