WA WA - Seraya Aung Harmon, 2, Pullman, 29 May 2024 *father and daughter went on a fishing trip in Montana but did not return*

[Artis]

I’m quoting my own post for reference because I’m seeing responses to it that seem to be misunderstanding me or putting words in my mouth.

I am not defending what they did, I am considering circumstances and mindsets that might have prompted them to act impulsively and make poor choices BUT be doing so in what they believe is in the child’s best interest. Why is that so difficult to understand? It doesn’t necessarily make them terrible people! We still don’t know the whole real story and therefore I’m keeping an open mind. Light your torches and sharpen your pitchforks that’s fine, but I’m not doing that.

The worst part of all is that none of this is any of our business but here we are.

We probably wouldn't know any of this if it weren't how it started: young woman goes missing from airport, just prior to jetting off to Italy. As the story unfolds, it has all of the elements of a Jerry Springer show.

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

We probably wouldn't know any of this if it weren't how it started: young woman goes missing from airport, just prior to jetting off to Italy. As the story unfolds, it has all of the elements of a Jerry Springer show.

So very true! Although each "incident" did have its own thread here initially. I think the interest level perhaps ramped up when it became apparent the incidents were related.

 

[vls12345]

After all these developments, I feel the Cadillac into Mexico was a decoy. Or, if real, quickly ditched for a private plane flight.

Feeling strongly that Aung family money bought them some private flights. Small, sometimes neighborhood runways, no need to file a flight plan, no immigration or customs folks checking things out if going from one small runway to another. I seriously wonder/suspect they may have flown into Canada and are laying low there. MOO.

 

[al66pine]

Family Time. Pix in Vegas. Zeppoz for B'day.

I just looked through the entire family statement.... photos is that almost all of them look like they were taken on a family vacation to Vegas. Why are those the only photos shared?

sbm @aggiekel2005 Interesting observation.
I noticed Seraya's birthday invitation* showed celebration site as Zeppoz in Pullman.

Zeppoz** looks like
- a Chuck E. Cheese (kiddy targetted restaurant w animatronic musical shows to enthrall birthday guests chowing down on pizza),
plus
bowling and a casino. Oh, and a bar too.

^Fun times for the toddler set???^ IDK.

Fam vacation pix in Las Vegas do not surprise me.
jmo imo moo

Edited, small changes.
__________________________
* "SNAPSHOTS OF LIFE: AARON AUNG, NADIA COLE AND SERAYA AUNG (REV 6/13/24 1:46 PM)"
** Home zeppoz.com
*** Chuck E. Cheese - Wikipedia

 

[whitelilac]

After all these developments, I feel the Cadillac into Mexico was a decoy. Or, if real, quickly ditched for a private plane flight.

Feeling strongly that Aung family money bought them some private flights. Small, sometimes neighborhood runways, no need to file a flight plan, no immigration or customs folks checking things out if going from one small runway to another. I seriously wonder/suspect they may have flown into Canada and are laying low there. MOO.

I felt the same way actually. I even looked up small airports in the vicinity of northern WA in the early days. I thought they'd managed to fly into Canada, and from there perhaps to elsewhere.
Then the Cadillac was reported. I was flabbergasted they would drive into Mexico to who knows where.They'd stand out like a sore thumb and could be driving through iffy areas.
Now I'm feeling the same way...they never went to Mexico. I do wonder about private flights, and the connections the Aung family may have.

 

[aggiekel2005]

Pix in Vegas. Zeppoz for B'day Celebration.

sbm @aggiekel2005 Interesting observation.

I noticed Seraya's birthday invitation* showed celebration site as Zeppoz in Pullman.

Zeppoz** looks like a
- Chuck E. Cheese (kiddy targetted restaurant
w animatronic musical shows to enthrall birthday guests chowing down on pizza),
plus
bowling and a casino. Oh, and a bar too.

^Fun times for the toddler set???^ IDK.

Fam vacation in Las Vegas does not surprise me.
jmo imo moo
__________________________
* "SNAPSHOTS OF LIFE: AARON AUNG, NADIA COLE AND SERAYA AUNG (REV 6/13/24 1:46 PM)"
** Home zeppoz.com
*** Chuck E. Cheese - Wikipedia

The vacation itself does not surprise me was much as the fact that almost all of the photos included in the statement/website were from that trip alone. I question why more photos of her growing up, being with NC, etc. were not included instead. Unless they only wanted to include recent photos to help identify her (which I also doubt). I don't understand why you include a birthday invitation in all of that either. No real theory there, just an observation.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

After all these developments, I feel the Cadillac into Mexico was a decoy. Or, if real, quickly ditched for a private plane flight.

Feeling strongly that Aung family money bought them some private flights. Small, sometimes neighborhood runways, no need to file a flight plan, no immigration or customs folks checking things out if going from one small runway to another. I seriously wonder/suspect they may have flown into Canada and are laying low there. MOO.

What I don't understand though is why LE hasn't said one thing or another about that Cadillac going into Mexico. Who is the owner, who was the driver, and where is it now? Was it just a ruse? Surely LE knows at least some of those answers. I can only guess they're not informing or involving the public because they believe they are out of the country?

 

[al66pine]

The vacation itself does not surprise me was much as the fact that almost all of the photos included in the statement/website were from that trip alone. I question why more photos of her growing up, being with NC, etc. were not included instead. Unless they only wanted to include recent photos to help identify her (which I also doubt). I don't understand why you include a birthday invitation in all of that either. No real theory there, just an observation.

@aggiekel2005
Sorry I don't have an answer about why (seemingly, mostly/only) the LV pix were selected for gallery.

If fam stmt's pic gallery was intended to show paternal devotion to Seraya, by showing LV pix, it did not seem convincing to me.

Fam vacations in Vegas may be more child-centric than I imagine them to be. Seems more geared to adults than the wee ones. During a trip there last fall, I did not see many parents w babes in arms or toddlers in tow. Maybe they were at other hotels, venues, etc.
ICBW about ^.
jmo. imo. moo.

 

[10ofRods]

Nadia Cole, a recent WSU grad, reported missing after departing SEA Airport​

21-year-old Nadia Erika Cole was last seen leaving the airport just after 3 p.m. on May 29.

www.king5.com
[...]

Nadia Erika Cole, 21, was last seen leaving the airport just after 3 p.m. on May 29. The Fife Police Department said she "may have been seen" in the City of Fife recently.

[...]

According to a press release from her family's private investigator, Cole left her belongings at an airport gate to use the restroom but never returned. She was then seen leaving the airport with "a distressed expression." The last known sighting of her was outside the airport near the light rail platform north of the parking garage.

After recently graduating college with honors, Cole was also preparing to go on a family trip to Italy in the near future. In the press release, her family called the circumstances leading up to her disappearance "entirely out of character for her."

[...]

[VERY strange----I find it very odd that Nadia would walk away from her airport luggage to go and meet up with this man and his child---without telling her family anything about it.....Did Aaron tell her an urgent story about needing to run off with his child, or he'd lose custody forever? I don't get it.]

Maybe he told her he had taken Seraya and was on the run and she needed to meet him immediately at some train station so they could be together forever, on the lam. Something clearly made her respond so quickly and in a manner not only out of character, but strange behavior for any traveller.

It had to be serious. Seraya crying in the background? I assume Nadia had her phone with her in the restroom and got a message or a call. It's unlikely that she still has it with her, obviously. Aung probably told her the plan and said "it's now or never" and she went to him.

Speculation and opinion. I think the idea that a small airport could be involved is intriguing.

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

Maybe he told her he had taken Seraya and was on the run and she needed to meet him immediately at some train station so they could be together forever, on the lam. Something clearly made her respond so quickly and in a manner not only out of character, but strange behavior for any traveller.

It had to be serious. Seraya crying in the background? I assume Nadia had her phone with her in the restroom and got a message or a call. It's unlikely that she still has it with her, obviously.

Speculation and opinion.

Supposedly her phone was left near her parents in the terminal, charging, from what I read.

 

[Googlebutts]

What I don't understand though is why LE hasn't said one thing or another about that Cadillac going into Mexico. Who is the owner, who was the driver, and where is it now? Was it just a rouse? Surely LE knows at least some of those answers. I can only guess they're not informing or involving the public because they believe they are out of the country?

The police said it was registered to his father when they released the details about the car

 

[Inthedetails]

Would love to see the parents on Nancy Grace now...

I am not a Nancy Grace fan but, YES! I'd like to see her interview the parents.

jmo

 

[tlcya]

Supposedly her phone was left near her parents in the terminal, charging, from what I read.

good to know that LE most likely have her phone. When she was initially reported missing by her parents they would probably have provided her phone to LE in case it provided clues to what on earth had happened to cause her sudden disappearance. I imagine it was the first thing LE asked to look at.

If there is evidence to be gleaned from the phone the FBI are teh ones to get it done quickly. MOO

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

good to know that LE most likely have her phone. When she was initially reported missing by her parents they would probably have provided her phone to LE in case it provided clues to what on earth had happened to cause her sudden disappearance. Iimagine it was the first thing LE asked to look at.

If there is evidence to be gleaned from the phone the FBI are teh ones to get it done quickly. MOO

True, but I've read here that because she's an adult and adults are allowed to willingly disappear, they perhaps cannot access it. If she didn't have a password set on it, I don't have any idea what the rules are as to looking at its contents, but if it was locked down, I assume they can't subpoena records or access it due to the "willing disappearance" factor? Many have hypothesized she and others would be using burner phones. Especially if it's an Apple device as my understanding is that Apple really puts the brakes on for providing records even in criminal cases.

 

[sasha17]

True, but I've read here that because she's an adult and adults are allowed to willingly disappear, they perhaps cannot access it. If she didn't have a password set on it, I don't have any idea what the rules are as to looking at its contents, but if it was locked down, I assume they can't subpoena records or access it due to the "willing disappearance" factor? Many have hypothesized she and others would be using burner phones. Especially if it's an Apple device as my understanding is that Apple really puts the brakes on for providing records even in criminal cases.

She seemed to be an adult who willingly disappeared when she walked away at the airport and this all first started, but now she's involved in an international custodial interference crime so that might have changed things in terms of what LE is allowed do.

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

No. Fortunately in the US citizens are not required to be informers. Lying to LE is a different matter & is not allowed. (Could be obstruction of justice) But staying silent & refusing to answer questions is a basic Constitutional right guaranteed to all of us.
MOO

Yes, but perhaps harboring someone in your own personal residence or property that was eluding a warrant or arrest might be?

Maybe harboring a fugitive? IANAL. MOO

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

She seemed to be an adult who willingly disappeared when she walked away at the airport and this all first started, but now she's involved in an international custodial interference crime so that might have changed things in terms of what LE is allowed do.

Good point. Anyone have any hard data on phone access? Apple is pretty darn tough on their rules and I've lost track of what they will release. If they aren't certain she is definitively with the missing other 2 people, I would imagine Apple (assuming she has an iPhone device) would not release her records.

 

[sasha17]

Good point. Anyone have any hard data on phone access? Apple is pretty darn tough on their rules and I've lost track of what they will release. If they aren't certain she is definitively with the missing other 2 people, I would imagine Apple (assuming she has an iPhone device) would not release her records.

I don't think Apple gets to make that decision, do they? A judge would have to be convinced of it and then would sign a subpoena. I mean, I suppose Apple could appeal the judge's decision in the courts but I don't think it's on Apple to look at the case and decide if they think she is or isn't missing with the others. That'd be the judge's job.

 

[Knox]

if that is the case then their concerns must not have amounted to sufficient grounds to warrant sole custody. Even if they were unhappy with the mediation result, mediation in family matters in the state of washington appear to be NON BINDING, the Aungs still had options of contacting child protective service, repetitioning the court etc.

Courts use mediation as a means to hopefully reach a resolution and reduce the acrimony in a custodial dispute.
RCW 26.09.015: Mediation proceedings.

This is exactly why I felt the statement from the Aung family was so inappropriate. If these serious issues were raised in mediation and proof was supplied, it would have to be addressed. If it were that serious as to present endangerment, they wouldn't have dropped attorney representation and agreed to mediation? I'm confused, you don't get to play it both ways to suit your current agenda?

Samara may need therapy if some of the things they stated are true. But the last time I looked, there are guidelines for the removal of children from parental care. Being the superior parent is not one of them.

 

[MsMarple]

Good point. Anyone have any hard data on phone access? Apple is pretty darn tough on their rules and I've lost track of what they will release. If they aren't certain she is definitively with the missing other 2 people, I would imagine Apple (assuming she has an iPhone device) would not release her records.

Yeah, some interesting thoughts. I don’t know at what point LE would be able to get a warrant for Nadia’s phone records if she’s not considered to be in danger. And I know Apple has historically refused access to a password protected phone in many cases.

Maybe it would change if LE decides to charge her with custodial interference too? Or if her parents know her password can they open her phone for LE?

Upthread @tlcya posted a portion of the law on custodial interference and I’m pretty sure it included someone being directed by the parent to help withhold the child or something like that. If I find it I’ll quote their post.