March 28, 2024, 09:40:53 AM *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News: NEW CHILD BOARD CREATED IN THE POLITICAL SECTION FOR THE 2016 ELECTION
 
   Home   Help Login Register  
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 »   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: Leta Cordes, 49 Mission Viejo CA - Missing on St. Maarten  (Read 47500 times)
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
martini
Scared Monkey
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 292



« Reply #20 on: January 30, 2008, 06:54:01 PM »

There is confirmation that the brunette woman in the pic above is the woman @ Mama's Pizza that night having dinner with Frank and his mother.

Here is another snip from zebrabot.com

snip<I don’t think there’s any comparison to the Holloway case in Aruba. People go missing for many reasons and as indicated, her husband being the last one to see her since her disappearance, is more in the “limelight” than anyone else.
Who says she was on her way to the Casino? Her Husband! Who said what time she left the house? Her Husband? Did anyone see her leave the house? No. Did she talk to anyone? No. Did anyone at the Westin Casino see her? No. The security cameras did not register her entering the hotel/casino.

Lots of different circumstances than the Holloway Case in Aruba but most importantly, in my humble opinion, is that if my wife was missing and I had enough money to own a vacation house on St. Maarten would I leave with “well I maybe back in 3 or 4 weeks”?

That is where I put the question… Hell no, If my wife was missing I would be searching day and night, cooperate, drum up support and plaster the island with pictures of her, fly her family. I would do everything in my power to solve this mystery.

And $5,000 leaving in a bank account for leads? This would set-off my alarm bells, including all my hair would stand up straight!!!

Frank Cordes would have a lot of explaining to do if I where the lead detective in this case!>snip


 
Logged
Nut44x4
Maine - USA
Global Moderator
Monkey Mega Star
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 18800


RIP Grumpy Cat :( I will miss you.


« Reply #21 on: January 30, 2008, 07:24:35 PM »

mmmmm....let me get this straight. A vacation home in the Caribbean, a home in  Mission Viejo, CA and only a $5,000 reward?   I guess he doesn't want her back very bad.   

Photo of Mission Viejo, CA
Logged

Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware/Of giving your heart to a dog to tear  -- Rudyard Kipling

One who doesn't trust is never deceived...

'I remained too much inside my head and ended up losing my mind' -Edgar Allen Poe
MsVada
Monkey Junky
***
Offline Offline

Posts: 1321



« Reply #22 on: January 30, 2008, 07:35:26 PM »

mmmmm....let me get this straight. A vacation home in the Caribbean, a home in  Mission Viejo, CA and only a $5,000 reward?   I guess he doesn't want her back very bad.   

Photo of Mission Viejo, CA


Nope, I don't think he does.  I think he has something to do with her missing.
Logged

Maine, born and raised!
martini
Scared Monkey
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 292



« Reply #23 on: January 30, 2008, 07:48:16 PM »

If I were the Lead Detective in this case!

Let me say before my typing fingers get ahead of my thinking..this is IMHO~

Stay closer to the crime scene (oh! sorry it is not a crime scene)

Check if there is an opening in that God awful sewer container that Westin built

Search the house and car for God's sake

Check the drug known spot on naked boy hill
 
If there is a cistern in the house , check the cistern

I can go on and on but I will stop for now 




Logged
klaasend
Administrator
Monkey Mega Star
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 74276



WWW
« Reply #24 on: January 30, 2008, 07:53:52 PM »

That photo of Mission Viejo exaggerates things a bit    Most of Mission Viejo doesn't look like that although it is near Saddleback Mountain which does sometimes get snow (but not that often).

The homes are expensive though simply because everything out here is expensive.  You would be lucky to find a single family home for under $700,000.

This house is listed at $719,000

http://www.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?ctid=10760&mnp=35&mxp=34&typ=7&sid=f1d6acaee58c4293bd252c17d3f41202&lid=1090058433&lsn=10&srcnt=57#Detail
Logged
martini
Scared Monkey
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 292



« Reply #25 on: January 31, 2008, 09:03:37 AM »

Volunteers to search for Leta Cordes on Sunday~
PHILIPSBURG--The Voluntary Corps St. Maarten VKS will be conducting an extensive search for missing US citizen Leta Lynn Cordes on Sunday. Residents are being encouraged to volunteer and join in the search.
Police spokesman Chief Inspector Johan “Janchi” Leonard said that as a concerned citizen and representative of the local Police Force, he had sent the search request to VKS Commander Jean Illidge, who had accepted and assigned VKS member Allan Richardson as coordinator of the search.

Serious volunteers are invited to show up at Sundial School in Philipsburg on Sunday, February 3, at 6:00am with appropriate hiking gear.

Leonard stressed that locating Cordes was very important, as this ongoing case could have severe international implications for the island.

Cordes has been missing since Saturday, January 12. In the meantime, her husband Frank Cordes has announced a US $5,000 reward for information about his wife’s whereabouts.

http://www.thedailyherald.com/news/daily/k217/search217.html


Logged
martini
Scared Monkey
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 292



« Reply #26 on: January 31, 2008, 09:34:17 AM »

Here is a link to an exclusive interview in the "Today" newspaper

http://sxmliving.blogspot.com/2008/01/today-article-from-jan-30th.html
Logged
bleachedblack
Monkey All Star Jr.
****
Offline Offline

Posts: 7607



« Reply #27 on: January 31, 2008, 11:08:21 AM »

Thanks for the article martini. I can only read the top portion........and call me stupid but after reading that I am inclined to believe the husband. He sounds sincere IMO. I am now tending to think this woman is missing of her own accord. There are several comments I could make now but best refrain.
Logged

".......O you who love clear edges
more than anything ......    watch the edges that blur"
martini
Scared Monkey
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 292



« Reply #28 on: February 01, 2008, 07:32:42 AM »

Leta's neighbor says that a week before Leta vanished at the bottom of her road an undocumented man was found dead in the bushes. No report or media information about it has been forthcoming.

There are other reports of robberies on the Westin road. Armed thugs on a scooter holding up tourists walking in the area.

To only point to Leta's husband would be a disservice to the whole community.
Logged
pdh3
Monkey Junky
***
Offline Offline

Posts: 3019



« Reply #29 on: February 01, 2008, 07:06:13 PM »

I'm afraid things don't look very good for this woman. Maybe it's just me, but I wonder why her husband wasn't concerned about an intoxicated woman walking alone in the dark. I would never see that as a good idea, no matter where I was, but especially not in a foreign country. It's just a very bad combination of risk factors, no matter how many times it's been done before without incident. And if she was carrying cash.....even worse.
I'm not blaming the victim, or her husband, but it does seem as though it might have occured to them at some point that they could be putting themselves in danger. I just don't understand their comfort level in walking that route often in the dark, and alone.
Logged

What's done in the dark will always come to light.
martini
Scared Monkey
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 292



« Reply #30 on: February 02, 2008, 06:15:32 PM »

Saturday's issue of the Today newspaper states that a low level air search was conducted yesterday over Dawn beach and Guana Bay by helicopter. The search was organized by people known to to the friends of Leta Cordes and involved retired Special Forces personnel with experience in search and rescue techniques.The search highlighted certain areas that
are in need of more extensive searching on foot or with dogs.
The article goes on to say a friend of Leta said it is heartening to know that the Tourist Bureau, 2 security companies and the public have volunteered to help search tomorrow.
TDH article states that the low level air search was conducted with WI Helicopter Service and the Police department in order to analyze the terrain ad pinpoint the areas needing special attention during tomorrow's search.
Leta' husband states he will not participate in the search but is in the US meeting with his wife's family to discuss details of the case and transferring an additional sum of money to RBTT Bank, which presently hold the $5000 reward money.

In additon, an editorial , entitled "Unwelcome Intervention" in TODAY newspaper states that they have been in the forefront of finding out news about this case and as such were invited by the search organizers to be part of the search operation,,..by joining the helicopter ride as well as being allowed a close look at the efforts of dive teams searching for her.
However, the reporter and the photographer got bumped off the heliccotper yesterday and the Today newspaper is very upset, feeling that they were interfered with in doing their work and there is no excuse for that.
they didn't say who bumped them but I have to assume the police department.

Logged
bleachedblack
Monkey All Star Jr.
****
Offline Offline

Posts: 7607



« Reply #31 on: February 02, 2008, 09:17:47 PM »





IMO the top pic looks strange....looks photoshopped to me.
Logged

".......O you who love clear edges
more than anything ......    watch the edges that blur"
martini
Scared Monkey
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 292



« Reply #32 on: February 03, 2008, 11:36:27 PM »

Volunteers Searching For Leta Lynn Cordes

Philipsburg: --- Despite the effort of Police Spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard and the search teams that gathered yesterday morning to search for Leta Lynn Cordes 49 of United States of America. The search he said proved futile as they found no traces of the woman who went missing since January 11 2008. Leonard said that several officers from Sheriff Security and well known members of the public including officials of the Tourism Office came out in large numbers to help find the woman who owns a vacation villa in Upper Princess Quarter. Among the participants were Regina Labega and Clara Reyes and many students. Leonard said.

Leonard said that Police along with members of the public searched the coast line of Guana Bay all the way to Dawn Beach while another group consisting mostly Sheriff Security searched the bushes in Dawn Beach all the way to Oyster Pond. Leonard said that even youths on the island came out showing their concern on the whereabouts of the missing woman. Meanwhile, Police questioned the woman husband Frank Cordes five times in a row since he is the last person to see his wife.  Frank Cordes told police that his wife a heavy drinker and gambler went to the Westin Casino on the night of January 11 by foot. Cordes said his wife, mother and himself spent most of the day in Grand Case eating and drinking and when he got home he left his drunken wife in the car sleeping. He said that the woman later entered the house when someone opened the door of the car and she asked him for money to go the casino to gamble. Ever since then the man said he has not seen or heard from his wife. In the meantime, SMN News received reliably information that the man and his wife had an argument the day she disappeared. Several US media houses who have been following the case reported the couple had trouble in their marriage over the years. While the Federal Bureau of Investigations has offered their help to assist local police in the case have been following leads in the US territory prior to coming on the island.


Logged
Kermit
Monkey All Star Jr.
****
Offline Offline

Posts: 8317



« Reply #33 on: February 04, 2008, 12:02:34 AM »


Logged
martini
Scared Monkey
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 292



« Reply #34 on: February 05, 2008, 06:27:41 AM »

Police and Prosecutor Still To Decide on Recourse of Missing American
Philipsburg: There is no word from the police department concerning the missing 49 year old American Leta Lynn Cordes who vanished on January 11 2008. Even though Chief Police Spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard initiated a search which took place on Sunday for the woman, police is still not releasing information as to what they have gathered during their investigation during the past three weeks.

In an invited comment Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein said that he has to discuss with the police sometime today to see what other recourse they would take since they still don’t know what happened to Leta Lynn Cordes. Frank Cordes who rarely speaks to local media was questioned on three occasions but so far the police have not declared the man a suspect into his wife disappearance since they said there is no evidence to suggest that a crime has been committed.

Cordes in an interview with SMN News yesterday said he has no news on his wife’s whereabouts. The man said he went to California last week where he intended to spend two weeks but returned to the island within three days time simply because he could not stand being away from the place his wife went missing. He said he had to do business there and felt that he would feel at ease since he is stressed out on all that has been happening since his wife disappearance. He insisted that even though his wife disappeared he still does not feel St. Maarten is a bad island. “This is the reason Leta and I bought a house here a year ago, we strongly believe St. Maarten is a great island and even if some one took his wife that does not represent the entire island.” Cordes said that many things he said to the media never made it in the newspaper simply because media house concise information.

Cordes said that he never painted St. Maarten black neither does he think the island and its people are bad. Clearing up earlier statements made to SMN News Cordes said he did not drive his wife to Westin that night instead he said he offered to drop her there but Leta he said refused his offer, he said that this is not the first time his wife walked to the Westin because she did so in December along with another friend. Cordes said on that December night his wife had an altercation with a man who had five dogs. He said that he is bombarded with accusations that suggests that he is involved in the disappearance of his wife something he said is very distressing.

Frank Cordes expressed his appreciation to the island people for all they are doing to find his missing wife. Especially on Sunday when many volunteers went out in large numbers to search for the woman. In the meantime, the distraught husband has retained the services of a local law firm to seek the release of all statements he made to the police. He said he is also trying to see if he could get the surveillance tapes from Westin casino which police claim they reviewed. Cordes said all he wanted is to make sure he and other independent persons get the opportunity to review the tapes. The man said that he is concerned because he was told that his wife had an altercation while in the casino the night she went missing and that claim was later refuted by Westin management. Another concern for Cordes is that in earlier police releases they claim that Leta Lynn Cordes was seen entering the casino but after that the police changed their statements.

Friends of Cordes said that they know the woman well and acknowledged she was having problems in her marriage and may have left her home, but these people who are speaking anonymously said that the woman would never stay away this long without contacting her sons or close friends whom she has a good relationship with.

While the police are not saying anything about their investigations Police Spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard said that the search is continuing on a daily basis. He said that every day the police canine dogs are being used to search several locations but to no avail.
Logged
martini
Scared Monkey
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 292



« Reply #35 on: February 05, 2008, 05:53:20 PM »

New video of updates on the missing Leta case~

Video can be found @ http://www.zebrabot.com/zbvideo/?p=73 
Logged
bleachedblack
Monkey All Star Jr.
****
Offline Offline

Posts: 7607



« Reply #36 on: February 07, 2008, 09:38:17 PM »

Cordes insists not involved
in his wife’s disappearance



~ Curious about Westin’s statements ~

BUSH ROAD--Frank Cordes, husband of missing US citizen Leta Lynn Cordes, lashed out Monday at suggestions that he might have been involved in his wife’s disappearance.

Cordes told The Daily Herald the suggestions had been made and continued to be made on the Internet and apparently were based on a domestic disturbance call he had made a year ago when he and his wife had been engaged in a scuffle over medical insurance (not life insurance as had been reported by some sections of the media).

He said his wife had come after him with a knife and he had reported the situation.

He said Leta Cordes’ family would be releasing an advertisement countering the allegations.

Cordes insisted he was not a violent person. He admitted Leta had issues, as she had been taking anti-depressants that would make her “psychotic” and “temperamental” if not taken regularly. However, he said, in response to her behaviour on occasion he had never felt it appropriate to argue with her, as sometimes she would be drunk as well.

Cordes strongly believes something happened to his wife in the vicinity of The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort & Spa. His belief is based on what he considers inconsistent statements by the resort’s management and employees who, he said, had indicated the day after Leta went missing that she had been seen entering the Westin casino, but then had stated otherwise 12 days later.

Cordes said he did not hold the resort liable for his wife’s disappearance, but believed that, as the security system at the casino was in its infant stage and employees might be pressured by management, previous statements were being denied based on uncertainty. Additionally, he said, to his knowledge one of the security officers at the casino is a police officer and apparently had only released security camera footage of that night to one other police officer.

He said Leta could or could not have been seen on the specific footage, but all areas around the casino were not equipped with cameras. Therefore, he assumes Leta could have had an altercation in the bathrooms or could have met someone, gone back to their room and left with them, although she did not have her passport with her.

In an invited comment, the manager on duty at the resort stated that the resort’s statement remained that she had never made it to the resort’s vicinity.

Cordes said his mother had arrived from Germany in the afternoon of the night his wife had disappeared, and could account for the 10 minutes he had taken to drive to and from the resort after Leta had left on foot for the casino. He said he had not gone past the resort’s gate, as he had assumed Leta was safe once in the vicinity of the resort.

He said no statements had been taken from his mother, because she could only speak German. However, his mother was there when Leta, who was intoxicated and had been sleeping in the car, entered the house demanding US $200 to go to the casino. He said he had refused to give her the money as he did not want her to leave the house in the state she was in. Leta, he said, became upset and went upstairs. After 10 to 15 minutes he went upstairs and discovered that she was gone.

As police authorities are now targeting him, Cordes said it had ruined his reputation. He said assumptions were being formalised based on opinions instead of facts. He said that as a result, Leta’s family, who did not suspect his involvement, was looking into having the FBI investigate The Westin and demand that the security tapes of the night be revealed.

In the meantime, the US $5,000 reward is still being offered to anyone coming forward with valid information on her disappearance.

http://www.thedailyherald.com/news/daily/k221/cordes221.html
Logged

".......O you who love clear edges
more than anything ......    watch the edges that blur"
martini
Scared Monkey
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 292



« Reply #37 on: February 08, 2008, 12:01:33 AM »

http://sxmprivateeye.com/node/12212   
Logged
Nut44x4
Maine - USA
Global Moderator
Monkey Mega Star
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 18800


RIP Grumpy Cat :( I will miss you.


« Reply #38 on: February 16, 2008, 10:25:02 AM »

The Orange County Register (California)
 
February 15, 2008 Friday
 
Several sightings of woman missing on Caribbean island, but no leads;
Meanwhile, her husband and family increase reward to $25,000.
 

Family of missing Mission Viejo woman increases reward to $25,000.



Several people in St. Maarten said they have seen the missing American woman with a "777" tattoo in hotels and stores, but all tips have led to dead ends, authorities said.

Pictures of Leta Lynn Cordes have been posted around the 37-square-mile Caribbean island and news of her disappearance on Jan. 11 has been reported in local media. Since then, several people have reported seeing the 49-year-old Mission Viejo woman, but all tips have turned up to be unfounded, said Taco Stein, public prosecutor in St. Maarten.

Meanwhile, Cordes' husband and family increased a reward of $5,000 to $25,000 for information leading to finding her or prosecution of anyone who may have done her harm.

Police have said they have found no evidence that Cordes was the victim of foul play, but family and friends believe something may have happened to her while she was walking to a nearby casino late at night.

Stein said this week that police are still actively searching for Cordes on the Dutch and French side of the island, which is divided between the two governments.

The FBI has offered to assist St. Maarten police in their search, but investigators have decided not to take the offer at this time, Stein said.

"We're not at the end of our wits yet," Stein said.

Investigators are still following other options, he said.

Frank Cordes said he last saw his wife after they returned from having dinner with his mother. The three had been drinking at a restaurant that night, and when they arrived at their island home, she told him she wanted to gamble.

Cordes asked Frank for a ride to the Westin Hotel casino and he said he would drive her, although she would have to walk back. She decided to make the 10- to 15-minute walk to the casino instead.

Minutes later, Frank said he drove to the casino to make sure she made it to there. He assumed she was inside when he didn't see her on the road. The next morning, his wife didn't return.

Frank said he is not sure if his wife made it to the casino that night, where she was a regular patron. Police told him previously that they had verified she was at the hotel that night, then told him they could not confirm that information.

In a previous interview, a spokesman for the St. Maarten police said investigators confirmed that she had entered the casino that night.

In a phone interview Wednesday, Stein said the spokesman may have been misquoted. According to video obtained from the hotel, the missing woman was never there that day.

Investigators are working to piece together the couple's last days together on the island, Stein said. They have also requested information from the FBI, although Stein would not specify what.

Authorities might also request heat-sensing equipment from the FBI to help in the search, Stein said.
http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100020825&docId=l:745496109&start=7
Logged

Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware/Of giving your heart to a dog to tear  -- Rudyard Kipling

One who doesn't trust is never deceived...

'I remained too much inside my head and ended up losing my mind' -Edgar Allen Poe
martini
Scared Monkey
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 292



« Reply #39 on: February 19, 2008, 11:49:55 PM »

Dawn Beach- Friends have set up a website for Leta Cordes, the American woman who disappeared on January 12th from her vacation home in Ocean view terrace. The site address is letacordes.com The site shows her photograph, basic details of her disappearance together with news concerning the $25,000.00 reward. The website also coincides with plans to distribute posters and flyers seeking the help of SXM residents to bring closure to this case. The site also invites comments and information.
Logged
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 »   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Use of this web site in any manner signifies unconditional acceptance, without exception, of our terms of use.
Powered by SMF 1.1.13 | SMF © 2006-2011, Simple Machines LLC
 
Page created in 6.287 seconds with 20 queries.