Expert video analysis shows James Foley beheading video to be fake

"After enhancements, the knife can be seen to be drawn across the upper neck at least six times, with no blood evidence to the point the picture fades to black," the analysts told the Times (the article is behind a paywall).

"I think it has been staged," one expert told the Times. "My feeling is that the execution may have happened after the camera was stopped."

Here is a letter Foley's family released that he wrote while in captivity:

I know you are thinking of me and praying for me. And I am so thankful. I feel you all, especially when I pray. I pray for you to stay strong and to believe. I really feel I can touch you even in this darkness when I pray.

Eighteen of us have been held together in one cell, which has helped me. We have had each other to have endless long conversations about movies, trivia, sports. We have played games made up of scraps found in our cell . . . We have found ways to play checkers, chess and Risk . . . and have had tournaments of competition, spending some days preparing strategies for the next day's game or lecture. The games and teaching each other have helped the time pass. They have been a huge help. We repeat stories and laugh to break the tension.

Sources:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/james-foley-killed-off-camera-expert-article-1.1915845

http://gawker.com/experts-james-foley-execution-video-may-have-been-stag-1626436055