The Body Of Abducted Barista, Samantha Koenig Found In Lake~Suspect Israel Keyes Commits Suicide In Police Custody After Confessing To Other Murders~ FBI Working To Connect Him To Unsolved Murders

Detectives and searchers looking for Samantha Koenig sought information and canvassed city streets Monday, more than five days after the 18-year-old disappeared.
The Anchorage Police Department announced that detectives want to hear from anyone who was in the parking lot of the Alaska Club on Tudor Road when police say she was kidnapped while working at a Midtown coffee stand the night of Feb. 1.

The detectives, who say they believe she was abducted by a lone man, are looking for information from people who were in the vicinity of 630 E. Tudor Road, where Common Grounds Espresso is located, from 7 to 9 p.m. on the night of Koenig's disappearance.

Those with information should call 786-2460, said APD spokesman Lt. Dave Parker.

Several dozen friends and family members of Koenig continued a search on foot and in cars after meeting at Common Grounds Monday afternoon, blanketing area businesses and schools with fliers.

Meanwhile, the attorney of a man against whom Samantha Koenig sought a restraining order in November says his client is being harassed by people who believe he was involved in her disappearance.

Attorney Rex Butler said his client, Christopher Bird, has been the target of online speculation.

Bird has spoken to police but is not considered a suspect or person of interest, Butler said.

"People from out of state who don't even know him have been assuming that he had some sort of role in this young lady's disappearance and nothing could be further from the truth," Butler said.

Parker, the police spokesman, said as of Monday detectives had not named Christopher Bird -- or anyone else -- as a suspect or person of interest in the case.

Less than two months before police say she was kidnapped, Samantha Koenig filed a request for a restraining order saying she was in "fear of death or physical injury" from Bird after he had allegedly sexually assaulted her.

In the civil protective order request, filed Nov. 15, Koenig wrote that she was at Bird's Anchorage home when he tried to force himself on her. He then allegedly sexually assaulted her, she wrote.

She requested the 20-day sexual assault civil protective order but, according to the file, left a hearing before the magistrate heard the matter. The order was not issued.

Bird was never charged with a crime and it's unclear whether Koenig ever reported the alleged assault to the police.

When asked about the November allegations against Bird, Parker, the police spokesman, said he was unable to comment because of a law that bars police officials from identifying victims of sexual assault.

Butler said there was nothing to the allegation.

Bird, meanwhile, was in court Monday on another matter stemming from a January allegation of an assault on a bouncer at the Anchor Bar in downtown Anchorage. The charge was dismissed Monday because there wasn't enough evidence to point to an assault, said municipal prosecutor Cindy Franklin.

Reached by phone Monday, Bird said that he was "mentally exhausted and stressed" and concerned that his name was being ruined.

Sexual assault civil protective orders were designed to close a legal loophole that had, in the past, prevented victims from seeking restraining orders against people they were not in a domestic relationship with, Parker said.

They are somewhat rarely used, Franklin said. A filing for a sexual assault civil protective order does not necessarily mean a criminal case will be filed in conjunction, Franklin said. The civil and criminal systems are separate.

Members of Samantha Koenig's family on Monday said they were continuing to search for her.

"We're missing a wonderful, great girl that needs to come home to us," said her aunt Pam Koenig Garner.

Samantha's father James Koenig, who has been fielding local and national media calls while organizing search efforts, said he had slept five hours in the past five days.

He's had custody of Samantha since she was small, he said.

As a child, she practiced karate and was interested in music. Samantha and her father spent time camping, fishing, four-wheeling and shooting, he said.

"She's probably a better shot than I am," Koenig said.

After attending West Anchorage High School, she transferred to the Anchorage Vocational Academic Institute of Learning, an alternative program. She did not finish, her father said.

She worked at the House of Harley Davidson and Sea Galley before getting her job at Common Grounds Espresso.

Her father said was worried about her working alone at the coffee stand from the beginning. The set-up always seemed vulnerable to him, he said.

"If I had my way I'd do away with all those coffee shops on the roadside," he said.

His hope was that she would instead enroll in a job training program at the Southcentral Foundation and start her career there. She is a CIRI shareholder, he said.

But Samantha was determined to take the job, which would pay for her truck and insurance.

"She's young," he said. "She wanted the tips for gas money."

Long-term, she had been contemplating becoming a veterinarian or joining the Navy, he said.

"She has goals," he said. "She's got a good head and she's a smart kid."

Koenig and a growing cadre of volunteers have been blanketing the city with fliers and ribbons with Samantha's face on them.

Police say they're continuing to follow leads that have been pouring in from callers.
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The desperate father of a 18-year-old girl who went missing Wednesday night hinted that she likely knew her abductor, but he would not release the names of his suspects.
James Koenig's daughter Samantha went missing from her job at a drive-thru coffee stand in downtown Anchorage, Alaska and hasn't been seen since.
The devastated father upped the reward for her safe return to $41,000 from $12,500, based in part because of generous donations from concerned parties.

‘The police, I'm sure, have investigated it and I'm sure are questioning these people daily,’ Mr Koenig said.
Police told the Anchorage Daily News Sunday that they had no new information but are continuing to investigate the case.
According to court documents, Samantha filed a protective order against a man in November, but the order was never finalized because she did not appear in court to uphold it.
Surveillence footage of the coffee stand shows a man wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and possibly a baseball hat approach the turquoise coffee stand and force Samantha out.
The footage itself has not been publicly released, and police will not specify what type of weapon the man was carrying.
The coffee stand's takings for that day also disappeared with the pretty teen and her kidnapper.

Samantha, known to friends as Sammy, was very close with her father and lived with him. Mr Koenig has pleaded for information about his daughter’s whereabouts and offered a $12,500 reward made up from donations by friends and family.
‘I will give you anything in this world. I will meet you, I will give you whatever you want. Just please bring my daughter back,’ Mr Koenig said.

Shocking abduction: The Common Grounds Espresso coffee stand where Samantha was last seen on Wednesday night
'She's one of the sweetest girls you'll ever know. She's got the biggest heart.
'She's funny. She's sarcastic. Every girl that knows her calls her her best friend.
He added: 'I need her home. Every day she's missing the odds are against us.'
Samantha's boyfriend of nine months, Dwayne, had arranged to pick up the barista when her shift finished at 8pm, police said.
That night he was held up by work. Detective Slawomir Markiewicz said: 'By the time he arrived, she was gone.'
Koenig said he knew his daughter must have been snatched, before the surveillance footage emerged, because it was so out of character for her to disappear or lose contact.
He had spoken to her by phone just 90 minutes before her shift ended, he said.

When she hadn't called by late Wednesday night, the frantic father called her cell repeatedly.
'I called her cellphone until the battery finally died, and texted it and everything,' he said. 'It would ring until it went to voice mail. And then, noon yesterday, it just went to voice mail, straight out.'
He told the Anchorage Daily News: 'I don't know if my daughter's being fed, taken care of, if she's still alive, if she's getting any sleep.'
The teenager's boyfriend Dwayne said: 'This isn’t in Samantha’s nature. She’s a good-hearted girl. This doesn’t need to be happening to her, so we need to find her as soon as possible.'

Melanie Ornelas, another barista who worked at the stand the following morning said there was coffee on the counter when she opened the stand the next morning.
'It looked like, in the middle of (making) a drink, she just left,' Ornelas told the Anchorage Daily News.
Samantha left without her things, but left a note asking if she had to work on Saturday, she said.
Common Grounds owner Michelle Duncan said that the day's takings vanished with Koenig.

Pretty teen: Tapes show Samantha Koenig leaving the coffee stand with a man who was apparently armed
The stand's windows and doors had been locked as normal, Duncan said, but the alarm wasn't set.
But until the footage from the surveillance cameras emerged colleagues were unconcerned.
'We didn't even have a red flag,' Duncan told the local newspaper.
'We didn't know anything was wrong until we found out she hadn't been heard from.'
Samantha had only worked for Common Grounds for around a month and seemed to enjoy her job, Duncan said.
She was a lively, bubbly girl who had already proved popular with customers.
Police initially called the kidnapping a 'suspicious' missing person case. But by Friday afternoon they were convinced the attractive brunette had been abducted.
Police spokesman Lt. Dave Parker said: 'It went from 'somebody didn't come home' to 'something very serious.'
More than 20 detectives are working around the clock to find Samantha, Detective Markiewicz said.
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Shocking abduction: The Common Grounds Espresso coffee stand where Samantha was last seen on Wednesday night

Video at link of her Dad, can't embed.

Thank you Nite!

Raine you did a great job starting this thread. Then nite rushes in to keep this story going.
:cheering:

Who Took Samantha Koenig from the Common Grounds Coffee Stand?

By John G. Kays

It`s been one week now since barista Samantha Koenig was abducted from the Common Grounds coffee shack (Anchorage, Alaska). Surveillance cameras, from several different angles, clearly captured her abduction, when in progress. It happened just before 8 PM last Wednesday, February 1st. Common Grounds closes at 8 PM. Police will not reveal the video to the public. Who took Samantha away?

Details in the video, known only to Samantha and the abductor, if made public, would give the perpetrator the upper hand, according to Lt. Michelle Butcher, who`s leading up the investigation (The News Tribune). What Lt. Butcher meant by this is unclear. We might assume that the kidnapper could make adjustments in his appearance, or something of this sort, but it seems as if he could do this anyway, whether the video remains secret or whether it is released to the general public.

All we are hearing is that this mysterious assailant was wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt of an undetermined color, and carried an undisclosed weapon. Assailants are always wearing these types of hoodies, so this gives us little to nothing. Another important aspect of the investigation, is whether Samantha may have known this man who led her away from this quaint, cozy-looking java stand. A great deal of fear is reported to have been on her face (from video footage).

There`s been some speculation as to the possibility that detectives can determine whether Samantha is familiar with this man, from how her face and eyes express themselves in the video. I sense they are leaning in the direction that she does know him. An Anchorage Police spokesman, Lt. Dave Parker theorized that Samantha must have come in contact with quite a few people, being exposed to the public as she is as an active barista.

This could be just a robbery, that escalated into an abduction, since all the money was gone from the Common Grounds coffee shop. I believe, it wasn`t until Thursday morning that the fairly disheveled coffee stand was discovered to have money missing. The alarm hadn`t been set and a coffee drink remained on the counter, not yet completely prepared. It wasn`t until they reviewed the video, that they found out the startling news of Samantha`s abduction.

Apparently, Samantha had filed a protective order last November against a local rapper, Christopher Bird. Ms. Koenig failed to appear in court, out of trepidation, as a follow up to the filing. Samantha was fearful of this man for some reason, but that reason hasn`t been disclosed to us heretofore. The police, however, are veering away from considering Christopher Bird a suspect. He has an alibi, but hasn`t been totally cleared yet.

Samantha Koenig had only been working as a barista at Common Grounds for one month. The humble kiosk of a coffee stand rests at a busy intersection in Anchorage, but is somewhat isolated and off the main road. The other problem, is that Samantha was working alone. I hear that Starbucks requires several baristas to be on duty at any one time. Lots of weirdos frequent coffee stands (I`ve heard it said).

News coverage on Samantha`s unusual case is picking up. This will help to get her image and her story out to more people who may know something, even if it`s small. I just heard about Ms. Koenig`s abduction (and about the existence of the Common Grounds) last night. My opinion, is she knew her abductor and robbery wasn`t the real motive. I believe this is the opinion of the police also. This is why the surveillance footage is being withheld.

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Samantha Koenig Case Update: Police Release More Information

February 09, 2012 08:05 AM EST

It's been just over a week since Samantha Koenig vanished and police have finally addressed concerns regarding the woman's disappearance. Officials in Anchorage have revealed some progress in the case, but the 18-year-old Alaskan barista is still missing. They've also decided to explain why they are refusing to show the surveillance footage of the night she was allegedly abducted.

It's unnerving how tight-lipped detectives in Anchorage are being, but fortunately the FBI is assisting so at least some able eyes will be looking things over. Nonetheless, they are still refusing to release many details in the disappearance of Samantha Koenig. Police say they have made progress in the past 24 hours, but aren't clarifying on what this progress may be.

Police are still refusing to release the surveillance footage of what went down the night the girl vanished, and say the reason why is because there is nothing visible that would aid in solving a crime. They have even said it would be just for "entertainment" purposes if the video were to be released. That is absolute nonsense! Even though the video is dark, the shape of the person could be seen and his mannerisms too.

It's day eight and Samantha Koenig is still missing. While the police are playing around with the "evidence" and keeping mum on the details, the time continues ticking by while this 18-year-old woman could be anywhere.

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Police are still refusing to release the surveillance footage of what went down the night the girl vanished, and say the reason why is because there is nothing visible that would aid in solving a crime. They have even said it would be just for "entertainment" purposes if the video were to be released.

This makes no sense whatsoever! Somebody might recognize something if they saw it!!

Police are still refusing to release the surveillance footage of what went down the night the girl vanished, and say the reason why is because there is nothing visible that would aid in solving a crime. They have even said it would be just for "entertainment" purposes if the video were to be released.

Anchorage police say detectives are making progress in the search for abducted 18-year-old Samantha Koenig but declined to discuss specific details from the case.

"I believe they've made some pretty good strides in the last 24 hours, but they're not ready to release that," police spokesman Lt. Dave Parker said late Wednesday.

With a reward fund growing, Koenig's father said Wednesday that information was still flowing in. Still, there were no major developments reported in the week-old case.

Parker said the team of detectives working around the clock on the case has interviewed dozens of people, leading to more interviews and some potential evidence.

No arrests have been made, nor any suspects or persons of interest publicly named. And nobody has reported seeing Koenig for a week. Her last known images exist in surveillance camera footage from the Common Grounds Espresso hut where she worked, in the parking lot of the Alaska Club at 630 E. Tudor Road.

The video shows an armed man approach the coffee stand on foot, wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt. He forced Koenig to leave with him just before 8 p.m. Feb. 1, police said. The 5-foot-5 Koenig walked west with the "significantly" taller man, a detective said.

Police say Koenig looked scared in the video. The cameras did not get a good look at her abductor's face, police said.

Koenig's boyfriend says he arrived sometime later to give her a ride home, but she was gone. Police say they have no reason to suspect him.

Common Grounds owners Tyler and Michelle Duncan said that the stand was locked up the next morning, but it was messy inside and all the cash was missing. Earlier reports that Koenig left behind her belongings at the stand were incorrect -- her purse, coat and cellphone were gone, Michelle Duncan said -- and there wasn't anything that immediately suggested an abduction, she said.

"The first baristas didn't see anything we haven't seen before (with other employees)," Tyler Duncan said. "It just looked like she did a real poor job of closing."

There was no sign of a struggle, he said. Soon after, when the Duncans watched the surveillance video, they saw something that made them call police immediately, he said. The couple would not elaborate on what triggered the call but said the video was obscured somehow.

"This perpetrator took obvious and deliberate means to avoid being captured on video," Tyler Duncan said.

The abduction was apparently so stealthy that a person seen in the video, sitting in a pickup about 50 feet from the stand, didn't appear to notice anything strange, Tyler said.

"They were just oblivious," he said.

The security system at Common Grounds, with multiple cameras and an alarm with a panic button, is better than most small businesses have in Anchorage, Tyler said. "We took it seriously. We have young women working in here."

Koenig's friends and family have made a headquarters of sorts in an RV parked near the coffee hut. They continued Wednesday to pass out fliers to keep the public aware of her kidnapping. A candlelight vigil is scheduled for Saturday.

Koenig's father, James Koenig, said he had "briefly" hired a private investigator but the man was no longer working on the case. James sounded haggard on the phone Wednesday.

"I am hitting every place I can possibly think of to get any tip or inclination," he said. "I've got to start thinking, where would I dump the ... body if I were this guy?"

Samantha Koenig's family is offering a reward of at least $41,000 for her return, though it has likely grown much larger. James Koenig said he didn't know exactly how much money had been donated to the reward fund, an account at Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union.

"I haven't had time to tally anything. That's the least of my worries," he said. "Whatever's getting deposited in there is whoever wants to bring my kid home."

People with tips, both good and bad, have been bombarding James's phone, he said. Some seem to just want the reward, he said.

"You'll get this that and the other and then, 'Don't forget the reward when you find her,' " James said.

Even psychics have offered to help, something James isn't ready to discount, he said.

"If you were in my position, you'd be taking every gamble in your life."

Anyone with information about Samantha Koenig's whereabouts is asked to call police at 786-2460.
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This case is being featured on NG right now.

This sure sounds like the Holly Bobo case, moo.

NG sure didn't take much time airing this tonight.

She sure didn't. 3/4 of the show was on a woman who was probably murdered by her husband. I wish NG would concentrate on the missing as a priority.

NG is all about RATINGS! I w/never forget her endless coverage on MJ when children were dying at the hands of their parents.

There are times, like in the JP case, that I agree with all she has stated. But, generally, she inserts her "victim" stance ("I, too, was/am a victim as my fiancee was murdered") whenever she can and is rude and a drama queen. MOO.

My opinion too.

Koenig's abduction makes baristas' vulnerability real.

Barista Samantha Koenig's abduction last week sent a shiver through the workers - most of them young and female-who spend their days in Anchorage's coffee shacks.

Julia O'Malley / Anchorage Daily News
Allison Martin, owner of CalGirls coffee on Tudor, has been selling coffee with pictures of missing barista Samantha Koenig on the cups. February 9, 2012
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• Video shows missing barista was abducted
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• Reward for abducted barista's return grows to $41,000
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BY JULIA O'MALLEY; ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS
Published: 02/10/12 1:30 am | Updated: 02/10/12 1:30 am

Barista Samantha Koenig's abduction last week sent a shiver through the workers — most of them young and female—who spend their days in Anchorage’s coffee shacks. Coffee shacks are a thing here, a signature Anchorage phenomena. A study in 2005 said there was a coffee opportunity for every 3,300 residents in the city. At the time, that was the highest coffee-to-person ratio in the US. It’s a competitive business and it doesn’t hurt to have a cart staffed with attractive young women.

While that makes caffeine and pretty faces easy to find, it also means a lot of women like 18-year-old Koenig will be closing up shacks in dark parking lots of car washes and gas stations tonight. Plenty of them will tell you that’s a vulnerable feeling. Koenig’s disappearance dials up the unease.

I doubt there’s a coffee shack in town that isn’t displaying her face on a poster Scotched-taped inside the sliding windows next to the drink menu. I saw signs at the doctor’s office, the car mechanic and the grocery store on Wednesday. She’s on everyone’s mind.

Most carts have video cameras and safety procedures already, but baristas I talked to Wednesday talked about added precautions. Doubling up on evening shifts. Stocking carts with pepper spray. Calling boyfriends for escorts to cars.

At the Hot Spot shack in the parking lot of the Rainmaker Touchless Car Wash near Tudor and Elmore, owner Rachael Johnston told me Koenig applied to work there but she didn’t have any openings at the time. She’s been thinking about her a lot.

Eight years ago Johnston was robbed at gunpoint in that shack by a young man named Kenneth Robinson, she said. He took the money in the register, which wasn’t much, and her wedding ring, she said. It could have been much worse. Not long after Robinson got out of prison for robbing her in 2010, he shot police officer Jean Mills during a traffic stop and later shot himself.

She learned plenty from that, she said. A barista has to be smart. She has to be a good judge of situations, observant and cautious.

"We do see all sorts of stuff," she said. "I don’t even hire a girl if it seems like she couldn’t use her wits."

Johnston does a security training at her shack. There’s a metal door that stays locked at all times. Boyfriends aren’t allowed in. And they can’t hang out in the parking lot either. Outside of the Robinson incident, someone broke out the window once, but all they took was a case of Red Bull. It doesn’t hurt that she’s located very close to the Anchorage Police Department, so cops roll by her window all day.

Down the road at Cool Beans, a shack on Tudor near the intersection with Lake Otis, owner Kandi Williams asked me if I could tell her anything more about Koenig. Being in a cart can make you feel vulnerable, but she said she doesn’t. She’s older than Koenig and people don’t mess with her much because her husband comes around a lot. (Go there, meet the guy, you’ll see why.) She also told me she relies on "hand-held protection. We’ll just leave it at that."

Over at Mocha Masters on Old Seward, the baristas weren’t so confident. They have been doubling up to close at night since the abduction, said Stephanie Loutzenheiser. They don’t have much trouble at their stand, save the occasional tip-jar snatcher, but like a lot of young women in carts, they are nervous, she said.

"I hear a lot of girls are quitting coffee shops," Loutzenheiser said. "But it’s still a good job."

At Sugar Shack Espresso on Lake Otis, Christy Hopkins told me that she’s been a barista for 3 1/2 years. Her mother always worried about her before, she said, but now she’s really worried. She’s had her moments in the cart alone, especially with walk-up customers. More than once, she tapped 911 into her cell phone and set it on top of the espresso machine while she made a drink because a customer gave her a weird feeling. All she’d have to do, she told herself, was hit "call."

"We know how vulnerable we are. Now that (Koenig’s abduction) happened, it showed other people how vulnerable we are, so that’s kind of scary," she said.

"I just hope they find her alive."

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Missing Barista's Family Wants Fliers in Schools, ASD Points to School Policy

By Christine Kim
Channel 2 News

9:23 p.m. AKST, February 9, 2012

ANCHORAGE, Alaska—
You've probably seen them all over town, the fliers asking for information about 18-year-old Samantha Koenig's disappearance. And while police continue to search for the missing barista, the community is stepping up in helping distribute those fliers and to spread the word.

Even strangers are pitching in.

“Maybe my little part can help,” said Amy Barham, who is helping distribute fliers.

But Amy Barham and her family said they're running into obstacles. Barham went to Wendler Middle School to pass out fliers to her children's classmates, but she said the school told her it was against policy, and that the fliers would scare the kids.

“These should be things they’re well aware of and in conscience of so I felt like it should be appropriate at 7th and 8th grade schools, but they said no,” said Barham. “And they wouldn’t let me put them in the parking lots either. I wanted to put them on the cars and they wouldn’t let me do that school property.”

Superintendent Carol Comeau said the district shared the flier earlier this week with all staff, but decided not to post it in public areas of schools or distribute them to students.

A spokesperson for the district said, "if we were to allow all good-faith requests, our families would be inundated with information which many times has no relevance to them…While we fully support many of the requesting organizations, we simply cannot accommodate their wants. During the school day, our students and staff must remain focused on education."

Samantha's father told us earlier this week that distributing fliers to students will get them into homes much more quickly.

“She absolutely refuses to let me put fliers in the schools, in the hallways where all the kids know about what's going on maybe they heard something maybe they heard them talk about it,” said James Koenig. “She only will put them in the faculty lounge where nobody will see my fliers.”

But while some say this may be one obstacle, the word of Samantha's disappearance is spreading across the community, all in hopes of bringing her back home safely.

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GA sex offender found in Alaska posing as private investigator

Posted: Feb 13, 2012 3:57 PM CST
Updated: Feb 13, 2012 4:01 PM CST
By Jeff Chirico - email

ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
A former Georgia man and twice-convicted sex offender, who had been exposed by CBS Atlanta for doing jobs he's not allowed to do, has been found posing as a private investigator in Alaska.

KTVA reported that John Bacon offered his expertise to help find a missing 18-year-old woman in Anchorage. Police said Samantha Koenig was kidnapped from a coffee stand earlier this month.

According to the Alaska Investigations Association, Bacon does not have the required license to work as a private investigator in Anchorage.

CBS Atlanta's hidden cameras caught Bacon posing as a plumber in 2010. He ignored a state order prohibiting him from doing plumbing work in Georgia.

In 2011, CBS Atlanta found Bacon working as psychologist. He met with an undercover CBS Atlanta producer at a restaurant for a counseling session. According to the secretary of state's website, Bacon does not have a license to practice psychology.

After CBS Atlanta aired the investigations, Bacon moved to Alaska.

Bacon had been convicted twice in the 1990s for sex crimes against children. One conviction occurred while he was serving in the military.

After KTVA uncovered Bacon's history, he told reporters he planned to drop the search for Koenig and is moving to Virginia.

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Hundreds Gather At Candlelight Vigil For Samantha Koenig
By Daysha Eaton, KSKA - Anchorage | February 13, 2012 - 4:25 pm

Police say they haven’t made any progress in the search for missing barista Samantha Koenig. But her friends and family held a vigil for her in Anchorage over the weekend.

“He’s able … he’s able … I know he is able … I know my lord able to carry me through …,” the Samoan 7th Day Adventist Youth Church Choir sang at a Candlelight Vigil for Samantha Koenig in Anchorage Saturday night.

Hundreds of people gathered in Town Square downtown for the 18-year-old barista that police say was abducted from the coffee stand where she worked. City Church Pastor Richard Irwin spoke at the event, drawing a connection between Koenig’s kidnapping and the culture of violence against women in Alaska.

“This is the reminder for us right here, this gathering for us to be able to say, enough is enough. We’re not going to put up with abuse any longer. We’re not going to put up with harm brought to the citizens of our city and our state. Victims have often have lost their voice. People who have been abuse have lost their voice. It’s time for you to step out and be a voice. It’s time for you to be the one who stands in the gap where somebody else doesn’t have the strength to. Anchorage must be a safe place for all the Samantha Koenigs,” Irwin said.

Koenig disappeared on the night of Feb. 1. Video footage from a security camera at the Common Grounds coffee stand shows her being kidnapped by an unidentified man. A reward is being offered for information leading to her whereabouts.

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Missing barista's father sets up post office box for tips, letters of support

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First Posted: February 13, 2012 - 9:00 pm

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Police said investigators are following up on good leads in the case of a missing 18-year-old barista abducted from her coffee stand.

But KTUU also reports (http://bit.ly/zFJ8j2) that Samantha Koenig's father has set up a post office box so people can send in letters of support or tips about his daughter's disappearance.

James Koenig asks that letters be sent to P.O. Box 91772, Anchorage, AK 99509-1772.

Samantha Koenig was abducted Feb. 1 from the Common Grounds Espresso in midtown Anchorage. Police say a surveillance tape shows an armed man wearing a hooded sweat shirt leading her on foot toward the Old Seward Highway.

Police have not released the video.

Police department spokesman Dave Parker tells the television station that investigators are making good progress on the case.

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WHY won't they release the video? What is the "Good" progress they are making??

Something new! The abductor fidgeted with the surveillance camera when he took Samantha Koenig from the Common Grounds coffee shack. He did not show his face to the camera. This tells us something about the perpetrator, who may have planned out ahead of time what he was about to do. Robbery is an unlikely motive. Kidnapping is. Detectives have some good leads, it`s been reported (The Anchorage Daily News).

Where these leads are going to, has not yet been disclosed. The abduction occurred two weeks to the day, on February 1st, which was also a Wednesday. News coverage of Samantha Koenig mystifying case has been ubiquitous and thorough, and yet we haven`t really learned too much more. A preponderance of fear in the community is the feeling I gather when reading over these very good stories.

Especially helpful, is an article written by Julia O`Malley for The News Tribune entitled: Abduction makes baristas` vulnerability real. Samantha`s abduction has been a wake-up call for these small coffee stands or sometimes they`re simply carts. we have lots of these sort of quickie java set-ups ourselves, here in Austin. Yet I never considered the vulnerability that these baristas (which are very often young women) experience, exposed to a wide array of characters, some of which may not be so nice.

My observations of the Common Grounds specifically, from TV footage, is that it looks more isolated than you might suspect. I know it`s on a thorough-fare, but in my image (which I give you), the coffee shack is blanketed with snow and the mountains in the background render it a distant dot on the horizon of a vast, open Alaskan territory. Perhaps, when it hasn`t been snowing it appears to be more in the hub hub of civilization, yet it snowed profusely the day after Samantha disappeared.

The argument for its noticeable isolation may be a vapid one, since it`s only projected from photographs and camcorder footage seen on the internet. And yet (in my defense) the abductor, whoever he may be, observed an opportunity to commit his crime from seeing that no one was around the small coffee stand. There was nobody around and he took advantage of it. Common Grounds was isolated enough, you might sense.

Did Samantha know her abductor? I believe she did, if only as an occasional customer, who had dropped by but a few times. I don`t believe he was someone Samantha knew with any great level of familiarity, such as a friend from school or someone she had been dating. This is just a hunch on my part. I believe this sicko (whoever he is) met Samantha when visiting the coffee shack, then planned out what he would do, based on the opportunity he observed from the logistics of the location.

It sounds as if I`m stepping on the gas of the fear factor. Maybe I am, but this sketch of what I think happened and my insight into the thinking of the perpetrator is likely what Anchorage detectives are mulling over also, as well as many Anchorage citizens from the community, who have taken an interest in Samantha Koenig`s case, since there are so many of these makeshift coffee shacks dotting the landscape.

The Common Grounds didn`t do anything wrong. It`s been reported they had a sound security system. What we have here is the real problem. It`s a new type of predator that is rarely seen. He`ll stop at nothing to pull off his crime. Is this particular predator a repeat offender? Is he a serial offender? Maybe not. These urchins emerge out of nowhere these days. Living in our present culture is wrought with peril. Some don`t handle all the stress of life too well. They turn into criminals.

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Samantha Koenig: Father offers $60K cash to abductor, investigation continues

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Isabelle Zehnder reporting) -- A father desperate to find his missing daughter has offered a $60,000 reward for information that brings his daughter home safely – he’s even offered to give her abductor the cash if she is released.

The search for missing Anchorage, Alaska barista Samantha Koenig has entered its second week. Police say they are assuming Samantha is still alive.

Police say that rumors Samantha's body was found are false and that their investigation continues.

If police have suspects or persons of interest in Samantha’s disappearance they’re not releasing that information to the public. Anchorage Police spokesman Lt. Dave Parker said, “Obviously there are some things in an investigation that you have to keep close to your vest. And we’re pretty good card players.”

According to the Anchorage Daily News police spokesman Lt. Dave Parker says investigators are widening the circle of people who they are questioning.

Police say that just before closing time at 8 p.m. on Feb. 1, an armed man walked up to the Common Ground Espresso stand. He was seen on surveillance video forcing Samantha to leave with him on foot.

They are urging Anchorage residents not become fearful that neither Samantha nor her abductor have been found. “We don’t want people to react with fear. But everybody needs to pay attention for their personal safety,” Parker said. “This is not television drama. This is real life and investigations take time. We’ll do it in the most professional and expeditious manner possible.”

Samantha’s father, James Koenig, says $60,000 is being offered for information that gets his daughter home safely.

Anyone with information about Samantha’s whereabouts is asked to call police at 907-786-8900.

Facebook:

The Please Help Find Samantha Koenig Facebook page states:

If anyone has any idea, any tips, if you have seen anything strange or had a gut feeling that something wasn't right please let someone know. Please post and tips or updates or anything that you think could help. Even if its the smallest thing.

With the outreach of support we will bring her home. Police say Samantha Koenig 18 was robbed then kidnapped by an armed man while working at Common Grounds Espresso at 630 East Tudor Road in Anchorage, Ak at 8PM on Wednesday, February 1, 2012.

Security footage shows a man wearing a dark hoodie and possibly a baseball cap entering the shop then walking with Samantha towards C St.

This case has been classified as an abduction based on Samantha's demeanor and the man's actions.

Samantha is 5'5" and weighs about 140lbs with brown hair and brown eyes.Anyone with information is asked to call APD 907-789-8900 or 786-2460.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Samantha Koenig: Father offers $60K cash to abductor, investigation continues - National missing persons | Examiner.com [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Help Find Samantha Koenig; Anchorage Barista Still Missing

February 19, 2012 11:00 AM EST

Eighteen-year-old Anchorage barista Samantha Koenig is still missing and there doesn't appear to be anything definitive being released in the investigation. That's a shame because it seems that the public is being left to search for the young woman while police remain mum on the details. A new website has launched to raise awareness of the missing young woman, so maybe this will help. Chances are, however, it's going to take volunteer search organizations with dogs to help find this missing woman.

There is a lot of room to speculate in this mysterious "abduction" case, and that's because of the police in Anchorage. They are refusing to release surveillance footage of the night Samantha Koenig was allegedly kidnapped by an armed man in a hoodie. They say that there is nothing to see on the video that hasn't already been described. They say the man's features cannot be made out clearly, so it wouldn't be of any help. Well, that's nonsense because small areas like this are pretty good about everyone knowing one another. Certainly, a local would recognize the clothing or even mannerisms of the person responsible.

As for this new website, it simply begs for more awareness in the disappearance of Samantha Koenig. That is extremely necessary, but more needs to be done about pushing these cops in the right directions. It doesn't seem like they are necessarily experienced in handling these type of cases because the level of silence is just about mind-numbing.

What happened to Samantha Koenig?

It's going on three weeks now that the 18-year-old barista has been missing and not a word from the police in several days. What kind of searches have they done? Have they perhaps tried hunting down and locating any of the several registered sex offenders in their town? As of 2011, there were an estimated 949 registered sex offenders in Anchorage, which only has a population of nearly 300,000 people. That is a huge number of potential threats in the area, so it would be nice to know if they've located every one of the offenders on the registry. It's just a textbook procedure as far as investigations go, so if they haven't that'd be a big ouch on the behalf of the police.

While everyone on the investigative side is being quiet, Samantha is still missing and is probably dead. Statistically, the first 48 to 72 hours are the most critical in an abduction, so now it's time for the family to seek out the help of such missing persons organizations as Texas EquuSearch, Lost & Missing and Missing You. With the help from some of these compassionate individuals and their scent dogs, even in the snow it is possible to find Samantha and continue with an investigation.

It's just a thought.

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Would love to know the "new website" the author speaks of.

Help Find Samantha Koenig' Website Launches

February 18, 2012|By Matthew Simon

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A new webpagehas launched as the search for missing barista Samantha Koenig continues.

“Help Find Samantha Koenig” describes the circumstances police say she disappeared, and includes pictures, printable posters and a link to submit tips.

There is also a new email address to send information to her father, James Koenig.

Anchorage Police say an armed man abducted the barista Feb 1. as she closed up the midtown Anchorage coffee stand where she is employed.

If you have any information call Anchorage Police at 907-786-8900.

Email Matthew Simon.

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It is so odd to me that they won't release the surveillance video to the public! It makes me wonder if someone in LE recognizes the person and doesn't want anybody else to...Surely not, but WHY NOT release the tape?! Makes NO sense...

Two Weeks Since Samantha Koenig's Disappearance, APD Says It's Making Progress

By Abby Hancock
KTUU-TV

Two weeks after Samantha Koenig's disappearance, her father James says he's trying hard to stay hopeful.
Samantha was abducted from Common Grounds Espresso on February 1. Her father describes the past two weeks as a roller coaster.

"I can't lose sight, I can't lose hope on this. That's what's driving me. You know, that kid's my heart and I'm hers," says Koenig.

Hope is what Samantha's family is leaning on.

Anchorage police say they are following up on any new leads and conducting more interviews. While many of the leads have come from the internet, police say rumors circulating online are also hindering their investigative efforts. Multiple rumors were recently posted on sites like Facebook, claiming Samantha's body was found.
"Everyone is aware there are rumors running rampant on the internet and those are very destructive. People should not post things they don't know to be true," says Lt. Dave Parker, police spokesman.

While police continue to gather details about Samantha Koenig's kidnapping, APD is also looking ahead.

The department is organizing a safety presentation for baristas at the APD Training Center. So far, anywhere between 100 to 200 baristas are expected to attend.

"We are going to come down and talk to them a little bit about situational awareness, a little bit about self defense, how to be aware of their surroundings, personal safety and things like that," says Sr. Patrol Officer Jennifer Haywood, who will help with the training.

Police are encouraging anyone with information about Samantha Koenig's abduction to call 786-8900.

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Anchorage police still hopeful in search for missing barista

Nearly three weeks since 18-year-old Samantha Koenig vanished, Anchorage police say detectives are still making progress as they investigate the barista's apparent abduction from a Midtown coffee hut.

BY CASEY GROVE; ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS

Nearly three weeks since 18-year-old Samantha Koenig vanished, Anchorage police say detectives are still making progress as they investigate the barista's apparent abduction from a Midtown coffee hut.

Meanwhile, a reward fund built on donations has swelled to at least $65,000, and a clock keeping track of how long Koenig has been missing continues to tick forward at a new website dedicated to her safe return.

Police Sgt. Slawomir Markiewicz said Tuesday that detectives trying to solve the mystery of Koenig's disappearance are putting in long hours, working late into the night and over weekends. They've talked to hundreds of people, followed up on more than 350 tips and conducted searches at various locations and on the Internet, Markiewicz said.

"It's a continuous effort," he said.

Police have not publicly identified any suspects, and no one has reported seeing Koenig since the night of Feb. 1.

It was just before 8 p.m. when a man wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt and carrying a weapon walked up to the Common Grounds Espresso stand outside the Alaska Club at 630 E. Tudor Road, police said. Police say a surveillance video shows Koenig leave with the man on foot, and the pair walked west.

The man is "significanly taller" than the 5-foot-5, 140-pound Koenig, police said.

Markiewicz said Koenig appears to be scared in the video, which police have refused to release. Koenig's frightened demeanor and the man's actions, as seen in the video, indicate she was abducted, he said.

The investigators have mulled over a variety of possible motives and types of suspects, Markiewicz said.

"There may be many theories that need to be talked about or examined ... I don't want to say which one is the strongest, which one is the weakest. We have to be open-minded," Markiewicz said.

There is no evidence to disprove the abduction theory, Markiewicz said. Despite statistics showing that an abduction victim's chances of survival decrease with time, the detectives also have found no reason to think Koenig is dead, he said.

"We haven't found any evidence that anything else happened to her, at this time," Markiewicz said. "I think the main thing here is that there is no evidence to contradict that."

Koenig's father, James, said he is still hopeful his daughter will return unharmed.

"I feel her in my heart. I know she's still alive. She's close. I just have to keep the hope and believe in what the police tell me, that they're doing everything they can," he said. "I'll never give up hope until I find her."

James Koenig has offered to give the reward money to anyone with solid information that brings his daughter home safely, and directed pleas to her abductor or abductors saying that they can have the cash if she is released.

"I have resources, good and bad, I do not want to unleash the bad, I do not wish ill against you or yours, but if this does not end soon, you leave me no choice," James Koenig wrote in a recent Facebook post.

Police, including Markiewicz, have warned against vigilante justice.

"We certainly don't want people to take matters into their own hands," Markiewicz said. "At this time, we don't believe we have reason to be concerned about somebody doing something improper."

Details about how to share information with Samantha Koenig's family are available at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] or on "Help Find Samantha Koenig" page on Facebook. Police ask that anyone with knowledge of her abduction or whereabouts call 786-2460.

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It makes absolutely NO Sense!! If I were her parent's I'd be pounding on their doors to release it!

FGS, at least let her family see it so they can say that they do or do not recognize the guy!

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (WTW) — Family and friends of the missing Anchorage barista, Samantha Koenig, are trying to increase a reward fund for information leading to the safe return of the 18-year-old woman.

Supporters held a fundraiser Saturday.

KTUU (http://bit.ly/yf8dGh ) says the reward is more than $70,000.

Koenig was abducted from a coffee stand in mid-town Anchorage on Feb. 1 and has not been seen since.

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by KTUU Staff
8:56 p.m. AKST, February 28, 2012

On Wednesday, March 1, it’ll be four weeks since an 18-year-old barista disappeared from a coffee stand in Midtown Anchorage. Although police say they are actively working leads in the Samantha Koenig case, they believe there’s more information out there that can help them in their investigation. Uh, Yea!! How about releasing the surveillance video!!!!

They’re encouraging tipsters to use the Anchorage Crime Stopper’s website at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] or the hotline at (907) 561-STOP.

Anita Shell, who works with families of missing persons in her job as a public information officer for the Anchorage Police department, says there’s a form you can click on right beside Koenig’s photo. Shell says the identity of anyone who fills out the form will be completely anonymous.

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“I know somebody knows something, they’re just not coming forward,” said Shell. “If you fear any retaliation, you don’t want to come forward, you don’t want to testify, please use the Crime Stopper number, because that is the truly anonymous way to submit information that will be followed up.”

Shell says the Crime Stopper website and phone line are set up in such a way that there’s no way the police department can trace the tipsters. I don't believe that!

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Anchorage police are releasing few details in the case of a barista missing now for more than four weeks.

However, they say they are making headway into the disappearance of 18-year-old Samantha Koenig.

Police spokesman Lt. Dave Parker told the Anchorage Daily News (http://bit.ly/wTuCrH ) that investigators believe they are getting closer each day to finding the woman.

Koenig was working at Common Grounds Espresso on Feb. 1 when video surveillance shows a man holding a weapon walk up to the coffee stand just before closing time. Police say Koenig appears frightened in the video. She was last seen walking away on foot with the man.

Koenig's father set up a reward fund, which has risen to between $65,000 and $70,000, for information leading to her safe return.

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A barista abducted from a coffee shack that sits near one of Anchorage's busiest intersections had filed for a restraining order against a man, but had been too scared to show up for the court hearing, her father said Monday.
James Koenig Jr. said his daughter hadn't known the man for very long before she sought the restraining order in November. He said he didn't know if the man was still in Anchorage.
Detectives were releasing scant details about their investigation into the disappearance of 18-year-old Samantha Koenig. A surveillance camera at the turquoise blue coffee stand in mid-town Anchorage showed a man forcing her to leave the shack on foot at about 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Police still don't know if the abduction was random or if the man wearing the dark, hooded sweatshirt knew her.
"Our experience is usually these people are targeted in this type of situation," Anchorage Police Department spokesman Lt. Dave Parker said.
Detectives were aware of Koenig's attempt to obtain the restraining order, he said.
Robberies at Anchorage's dozens of coffee shacks do occur, Parker said. But he couldn't remember another case where someone was abducted from an espresso stand, where mostly young women work alone preparing coffee beverages.
Koenig said he didn't want his daughter to work at the coffee stand, but she wanted a job. He wanted her to pursue a career in nursing, something she had talked about, he said. She also talked about becoming a veterinarian.
Koenig issued a call Monday for volunteers to go door-to-door with fliers. Twenty-thousand fliers have been handed out so far and more are being printed up daily, he said.
"If you have time and you have compassion, you can help. Just come down to the Common Grounds Espresso ... and grab some fliers," Koenig said.
The fliers feature two photos of the woman and the word "kidnapped" in large, red letters on top. A $41,000 reward is being offered and a Facebook account has been set up at Facebook.com/help.find.samantha.
Michelle Duncan, owner of Common Grounds Espresso, is handling out fliers with each order of coffee.
"Samantha works for us. She's a very lively, bubbly, beautiful 18-year-old woman," Duncan said.
"We just want to keep Samantha's face out there," she said.


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A barista abducted from a coffee shack that sits near one of Anchorage's busiest intersections had filed for a restraining order against a man, but had been too scared to show up for the court hearing, her father said Monday.
James Koenig Jr. said his daughter hadn't known the man for very long before she sought the restraining order in November. He said he didn't know if the man was still in Anchorage.

Wonder if her father had seen this man? If so, it seems that he might recognize him on the video. Don't recall if LE has shown it to him or not--I know they haven't released it to the public. Surely they have tried to locate this man...I just have a feeling that he is the one that abducted her.

Lisette, going on my memory I don't think LE allowed her Dad to see the video! I had the same thoughts as you, he may recognize the man. I could be wrong, so don't quote me. I'll look and see if I come across any info on it.

Samantha Koenig Remains Missing; Strip Clubs, Rappers and Psychics Prominent in Case

March 08, 2012 09:45 PM EST

Eighteen-year-old Samantha Koenig is still missing after allegedly falling victim to an abduction in early February. The Anchorage barista was reportedly taken against her will by a man wearing a dark hoodie and possibly a baseball cap, but only the police have seen the surveillance footage so it's truly unknown as to what may have happened to the young woman. Nonetheless there are many interesting characters popping up in this case and it doesn't seem like the mainstream media wants to touch this stuff with a 10-foot-pole, but why?

The most recent update, aside from a supposed press conference being held by James Koenig tonight, it seems that a strip club owner in Anchorage is making a gesture of good faith. The owner of the Showboat Show Club is offering the adult entertainment venue up as reward for anyone who has information leading to Samantha Koenig. The club is valued at approximately a quarter of a million dollars, so it should be appealing to someone out there who might know something.

The strip club owner isn't the only interesting character in the Koenig case. In fact, it's been revealed that the young man whom Samantha sought a restraining order against last winter is known as "Whyte Tyson," a rapper out of Anchorage. He and his mother spoke exclusively for an interview that can be read here, and they expressed the veritable witch-hunt that has taken over in their home town. It's been reported that Christopher Bird (aka "White Tyson") is cleared of involvement in this case, but according to his mother, Tammie Counts, the father of Samantha Koenig and his supporters feel otherwise. There is a lot of bad blood between these people and this man who insists that he is innocent is all but being run out of town. He was even thrown out of barber school because the owner was bothered by the publicity Christopher was attracting.

Interestingly enough, Tammie Counts, the internationally known psychic who offered her take on the girl's disappearance, revealed that she too had a sort of premonition regarding the case of the missing Anchorage barista—whom she knows personally. Like Carla Baron, Counts had a specific vision of the person responsible right down to his hair and his line of work. Out of respect for the family of Samantha Koenig and psychic Carla Baron, the details of this premonition are not being revealed here, but it is certain that both women expressed very similar takes on what may have happened with Samantha.

It seems that while the mainstream media isn't really covering the case as attentively as it should, there are a slew of details in this young woman's life that reveal at least small inclinations of what may have happened to her. Could Samantha Koenig had fallen victim to a serial predator in Anchorage, Alaska, or is she the victim of abduction or foul play by the hands of someone who knew her very well? Or could she have left on her own choice and is paying no heed to the public cries for awareness in her case?

Regardless of the likelihood of any of the above mentioned scenarios, the interesting characters that are coming to the front in this case are giving more insight than any of the other media outlets are providing and that in and of itself is quite telling of the mystery and confusion surrounding this case.

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BY CASEY GROVE; ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS
Published: 03/08/12 8:46 pm | Updated: 03/08/12 9:11 pm

Anchorage police have reason to believe that missing 18-year-old Samantha Koenig is alive, according to a detective investigating her apparent abduction about five weeks ago.

While police have revealed few details about the investigation since Koenig vanished Feb. 1 -- they say she was seen frightened in surveillance video as an armed man forced her from a Midtown coffee hut about 8 p.m. -- the team of detectives on the case are working hard to find her, said Sgt. Slawomir Markiewicz, the head of the police department's Homicide Unit.

The team has interviewed more than 100 people and followed up on about 400 tips, Markiewicz said. They've been making progress on a daily basis and still hope to find Koenig unharmed, Markiewicz said.

"I'm privy to the details of the investigation, and I believe that she's alive," Markiewicz said.

Markiewicz said there was no evidence that Koenig is dead. When asked if there is evidence that she is alive, he declined to comment further.

Markiewicz' remarks came Thursday afternoon just after Koenig's father held a press conference to defend his daughter against what he described as slanderous comments posted on Facebook and elsewhere online.

James Koenig also said he thinks his daughter is alive.

"I believe that's the mind set we all have to keep," he said. "I mean, there's nothing that says she isn't."

James Koenig has engaged in an online battle of words with a local rapper named in a protective order application filed by his daughter in November. Samantha Koenig never followed up on getting the order, which would have prohibited Christopher Bird from contacting her. But she wrote in the court filing that Bird, who makes music under the name Whyte Tyson, forced her to have sex with him.

Bird, 24, says those allegations are completely false. At his lawyer's office Friday, Bird said Koenig lied in the court papers and, as a result, he has been wrongfully linked to her abduction.

Bird and his mother, Tammie Counts, said Bird had nothing to do with Koenig's abduction and was at home eating fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans the night she disappeared. There are several witnesses to that, and the police have turned their attention away from Bird, he and his mother said.

"If my son had anything to do with this, he'd be sitting in jail right now," Counts said. "We told (the police), 'We'll give lie detector tests, DNA, whatever you want.' We are not lying, we have nothing to hide in this situation."

Bird said gossip about his involvement spread quickly online through Facebook and YouTube.

"I had nothing to do with none of that. And now I'm internationally known as a rapist and a kidnapper. That's what the speculation is," he said.

People have called to threaten him and his family, Bird said. The speculation has ruined his life and he lost his spot in barber school because of it, Bird said.

Bird, his mother and his 3-year-old daughter are planning to leave Alaska soon because they don't feel safe.

But those in Bird's corner -- including Samantha Koenig's step-brother, Michael Pedersen -- have not remained silent about what they say are Koenig's past indiscretions, taking to Facebook and talking to reporters about what they say her life was really like.

For one thing, Pedersen said, Koenig told him she made up everything in the protective order filing, and he had heard she had problems with her dad and her boyfriend.

None of that is true, said James Koenig.

His daughter had gone through a rough patch with her boyfriend months ago, but he helped them work through it, he said. She'd smoked marijuana in the past, and delved into cocaine use more than a year ago, but neither she nor her boyfriend were using any kind of drugs recently, James Koenig said.

In profanity-laden Facebook posts, Bird has blamed James Koenig for Samantha's disappearance, an assertion Koenig says is false.

Markiewicz, the detective, said the investigation has not turned up any information indicating the abduction is related to James Koenig. Markiewicz would not say if Bird is a suspect or has been cleared in the investigation. The nasty dialogue between Bird's supporters and Koenig's was a distraction, Markiewicz said.

"Our main focus is finding Samantha, finding her alive, and that's what we're focused on," the detective said. "That's why we're dedicating all of our resources to that. There are a lot of other things happening. But we have to maintain the focus and stay the course."

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Samantha Koenig Update: House and Neighborhood Searched by APD

March 15, 2012 12:50 AM EDT

Is the Samantha Koenig search producing new leads? It's being reported that Major Crime Scene investigators with APD are a heavy presence in one Anchorage neighborhood and police will not confirm or deny whether or not this has anything to do with the missing 18-year-old barista.

Sources report that the neighborhood of Turnagain has been under heavy police traffic, and investigators have aimed some focus on a house in particular within the neighborhood. When asked if this recent activity has to do with Samantha Koenig, ADP spokesperson Marlene Lammers said the following:

"I cannot confirm or deny that. I honestly don't know."

However, police confirmed that the latest activity has to do with an open and active investigation. How many of those does the APD have that has managed to attract media attention other than the disappearance of the 18-year-old young woman? Hopefully they find what they're looking for, whether or not this recent activity is pertaining to the missing woman. But it certainly seems odd, doesn't it?

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Anchorage police announced Thursday that a suspect in the case of missing barista Samantha Koenig had been arrested in Lufkin, Texas.

Israel Keyes, a 34-year-old construction contractor who worked under the company moniker Keyes Construction, was arrested in Lufkin on Tuesday. A joint effort between the Anchorage Police Department, the FBI and Texas law enforcement led to Keyes' arrest, the full details of which were not immediately available as police said the federal arrest warrant is sealed.

Court documents filed in the Eastern Texas District Court said that Keyes had been charged with access device fraud, a charge commonly used when someone uses a debit or credit card without the card owner's consent. Also listed in the docket was a criminal complaint based out of Alaska. Keyes was due back in court in Texas early Thursday, according to the most recent filings Thursday evening.

Texas news station KTRE reported that Keyes was arrested in the parking lot of a restaurant after a traffic stop, where a Texas state trooper discovered there was an out-of-state bulletin for Keyes. Police searched the car and "found enough evidence in the vehicle to arrest the driver for suspected kidnapping," KTRE reported.

Koenig was abducted from the Common Grounds Espresso coffee shack where she worked on Feb. 1, by what police identified as an armed man wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt. Police said Thursday that Koenig's whereabouts remain unknown.

Anchorage Police Sgt. Slav Markiewicz said Thursday police still don't know where Koenig is. They're keeping details of the investigation out of the public view for now.

"We are not going to release details of what led us to him and other details at this time. It’s a sensitive investigation, we still don’t know where she is (and) we don’t want to do anything that would put this investigation in jeopardy,” he said.

He also hinted that the security camera footage taken from the coffee stand played little, if any, role in identifying Keyes. "As we said originally, if that surveillance camera would have helped us identify that suspect we would have released it at that time, but we didn’t," he said.

Markiewicz said that there was "no information or evidence" that Koenig and Keyes knew each other "before."

According to the website for Keyes Construction under the "work history" section -- apparently written by Keyes himself -- Keyes worked in Washington and served in the U.S. Army before moving to Alaska in 2007.

Police are still asking anyone with information on Koenig's disappearance, and now particularly anyone with information about Keyes' whereabouts since Jan. 1, to contact them:

"We are seeking information from any and all individuals who have had personal contact with Israel Keyes since January 1, 2012, as well as information from anyone who has had any contact with him in the past through his business, Keyes Construction. People with information are asked to call the following number: 1-800-225-5324 OR 1-800-CALL-FBI."
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I am glad to see that Keyes was arrested. I hope they are able to find Samantha Koenig.

Posted: Mar 16, 2012 11:23 AM CDT
Updated: Mar 16, 2012 11:40 AM CDT
By Jeff Awtrey
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LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) -
While court records are sealed in the case of an Alaska kidnapping suspect caught in Lufkin, documents show him to be charged on a separate issue.

Israel Keyes is being charged in federal court with access device fraud, which is described as "knowingly and with intent to defraud effects transactions with an access device issued to another person to receive payment and a thing of value during any one-year period the aggregate value of which is equal or greater than $1,000."

Facts for the complaint have been sealed, as well as Keyes' initial hearing in federal court.

Prosecutors have filed a motion for detention, citing risk of flight and retaliation as reasons he should not be released on bond.

Keyes was arrested on Tuesday during a traffic stop on South First Street in Lufkin. Anchorage Police confirmed Keyes was arrested in connection to the disappearance of Samantha Koenig, who was abducted by an armed man in February at an espresso store.

The detention hearing is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

A spokesperson for the family spoke about the arrest Thursday night.

"It's one more thing that's going to hopefully be the key to bringing Samantha home. And, it's one more piece to the puzzle," Michelle Tasker said. "my knowledge and from what I've been able to confirm through James, that he is not a known associate of the Koenig family. He is not a known associate of Samantha. We do not know what connection he has and why he would take her."

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Suspected kidnapper arrested following DPS traffic stop in Lufkin

Posted: Mar 13, 2012 1:44 PM CDT
Updated: Mar 13, 2012 5:17 PM CDT
By Tina Alexander - bio | email
By Alexis Spears - bio | email

LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) -
Diners at Cotton Patch restaurant in Lufkin got a little more than they ordered Tuesday when law enforcement officers converged on the parking lot to arrest a suspected kidnapper.

According to a DPS spokesperson, a trooper monitoring traffic along Highway 59 south of Lufkin pulled the suspect over after he made a traffic violation.

Once the man was detained in the parking lot of the restaurant, the trooper determined that the driver was a suspect connected to an out-of-state police bulletin of an alleged kidnapping. The FBI, Texas Rangers and DPS were called in as backup. The white car that the man was driving was searched, the spokesman said.

Investigators said they found enough evidence in the vehicle to arrest the driver for suspected kidnapping. He was also searched and then taken into custody for questioning. The identity of the suspect has not been released.

"It's a good feeling knowing that you've taken appropriate measures to possibly solve a crime or prevent a crime," said David Hendry, a DPS trooper on the scene.

More than a dozen onlookers were at the scene during the searches and subsequent arrest.

DPS is expected to release a statement detailing the arrest later Tuesday afternoon.

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