The sister of a St. Charles man missing for more than eight years said a predatory grifter tried scamming her for reward money.
Stephanie McNeil, sister of missing man John Spira, said she was contacted through Facebook by a woman claiming to be from New Zealand.
“I believe that you are looking for your brother? And I believe there is a US$10,000 reward for anyone that finds him,” the woman, identified as “Karina Coogan,” said in her message. Coogan sent McNeil the Facebook message on the eighth anniversary of her brother’s February 2007 disappearance.
“Could you please let me know what the exact terms of the reward are,” the message said. “Sorry to sound so mercenary, I am not. But I am sick of people saying they offer rewards and then not pay out on them.”