AK - Samantha Koenig, 18, Anchorage, 1 Feb 2012 - #4

[LucyOso]

IF, big IF, he did abduct her and she is still alive and captive somewhere, let's hope she is found before it is too late.

 

[joslmaman]

To get her to New York he would've had to go by car or plane (the only way to boat there is to go down through the Panama canal).

Plane clearly seems impossible, unless she went willingly.

With a car he would've had to make two border crossings. It would be very risky. He would've had to hide her well (and keep her quiet) and hope that the border patrol people didn't just decide to search him on a whim. And that guy, traveling alone with a bunch of stuff in the back (enough to hide a person), would be an awful tempting target for a border search.

Maybe he could've crossed over secretly, but I think that would be pretty hard to pull off (definitely on the Alaska/Canada border at least). Pretty much is only option would be to bushwhack through the woods.

I agree..it seems highly unlikely. Not to mention the amount of time it would take to drive all the way to NY from AK. LE was well into their investigation by then and if boarder patrol didn't catch that...

 

[joslmaman]

You're right and I said earlier that my imagination is way too active.

The probability that he brought her to upstate NY is almost non-existent. Just following digital trails.

I get it!

 

[Psychic Sleuth]

Private plane? Or perhaps an accomplice with a private plane? We need to know just how he got from AK to TX. Human trafficking is big in the Lufkin TX area from what I've heard.

 

[Deleted member 718]

I also think its unlikey he drove to TX, the Alcan is not a fun drive especially with all the snow we've gotten this year, gas is super expensive, especially when you get on the highway and you're in the remote areas, and he'd have to get through the border into Canada then back through to the US ( you do need a passport card to get through the border) . I don't see any benefit for him to drive, it would be faster, cheaper , and I don't think any less conspicuous, for him to fly. I can't imagine how her family feels, its driving me nuts not knowing!!

I keep thinking about the ferry AKA Alaska Marine Highway. He could have used a stolen credit card to buy his ticket and it took a while to trace. Or he may have paid cash for a ticket and used a stolen ID. There are so many different ferry routes he could have chosen. He could take a sailing using one ID and then layover and use a different ID and pay cash for his next voyage. IMO he ended his sailings at Bellingham WA never going through Canada to avoid having to show a passport. There are so many seasonal jobs in Alaska that no one looks twice at a single guy riding the ferry.

My question is did Samantha travel with him? It's possible she could have. Did he have a car on the ferry and she hid in the trunk until sailing was under way, then hid in his berth? Or had he already dispatched her and disposed of her on one of the many stops the ferry makes? Also, travelers who take their pets are allowed access to their cars several times a day.

So many variables for traveling in and out of Alaska.

http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/map.shtml

 

[Ransom]

Has anyone tied him into locations other than Alaska, Washington, New York, and Texas? I ask because all four of these states are "Border" states. Is it possible that he has some experience in getting people across borders illegally? My thoughts and opinions only.

It's a piece of cake to cross INTO Mexico from any border state. Nothing required by the Mexican gov't. to enter. After the "border free zone" area (which is easy to go around) a passport may be required.

 

[akmama]

Even if he had an accomplice with a private plane, and there are many up here, it would have been a huge risk, even at tiny little airstrips they stop and question pilots (about GAS feta, weight your carrying etc) I just don't think it would have been worth that risk, even if he didn't think that LE was onto him. He would have also had to find someone with a plane and pilot license to go along with his plan and try to sneak the plane into Canada. I think they watch the air traffic pretty closely because of drugs.

 

[z560]

Private plane? Or perhaps an accomplice with a private plane? We need to know just how he got from AK to TX. Human trafficking is big in the Lufkin TX area from what I've heard.

Really? That is interesting. Do you know where the victims are typically sent from there? To Mexico? Or are they usually brought in to Lufkin from other places?

 

[ak81]

JK addressed it in the press conference.

I know he did. I was just making the point that just because JK said she didn't steal it doesn't mean it was definitely "false information" as imamom stated. It's possible he's lying about it.

 

[z560]

I keep thinking about the ferry AKA Alaska Marine Highway. He could have used a stolen credit card to buy his ticket and it took a while to trace. Or he may have paid cash for a ticket and used a stolen ID. There are so many different ferry routes he could have chosen. He could take a sailing using one ID and then layover and use a different ID and pay cash for his next voyage. IMO he ended his sailings at Bellingham WA never going through Canada to avoid having to show a passport. There are so many seasonal jobs in Alaska that no one looks twice at a single guy riding the ferry.

My question is did Samantha travel with him? It's possible she could have. Did he have a car on the ferry and she hid in the trunk until sailing was under way, then hid in his berth? Or had he already dispatched her and disposed of her on one of the many stops the ferry makes? Also, travelers who take their pets are allowed access to their cars several times a day.

So many variables for traveling in and out of Alaska.

http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/map.shtml

A ferry to Bellingham might be a possibility. Usually you have to go through customs if you get off in Canada (most south-bound ferry routes end in Prince Rupert, BC, I believe). But I guess you wouldn't have to go through customs if you went to Bellingham. I do think that the ferry only runs to Bellingham once every other week or so.

We are talking about something like a five day ferry trip though. It would be awful hard to keep her hidden in a car that long, right? (Unless she was complicit.)

 

[Psychic Sleuth]

Really? That is interesting. Do you know where the victims are typically sent from there? To Mexico? Or are they usually brought in to Lufkin from other places?

I don't know this for a fact but I heard they are brought to Lufkin from other places then sent to work in Houston.

 

[z560]

I looked at the ferry schedule and it looks like a ferry goes from southeast alaska to bellingham once per week (it takes about three and a half days).

First he'd have to get to southeast alaska, which means either ANOTHER ferry ride (about two days) or crossing the border twice if you drive.

https://www.dot.state.ak.us/oars/re...&selectVessel=All+Vessels&action=Get+Schedule

 

[DadinAK]

Even if he had an accomplice with a private plane, and there are many up here, it would have been a huge risk, even at tiny little airstrips they stop and question pilots (about GAS feta, weight your carrying etc) I just don't think it would have been worth that risk, even if he didn't think that LE was onto him. He would have also had to find someone with a plane and pilot license to go along with his plan and try to sneak the plane into Canada. I think they watch the air traffic pretty closely because of drugs.

I agree. The only other way I could think to "sneak" across the border would be with a snowmachine (mobile), they go places planes cannot and they are pretty fast. However, I think that is a real far-fetch in this scenario. MOO

 

[akmama]

IMO she's still here in AK. I would think if he had contacts in the sex trade industry, he wouldn't go through all the hassle of kidnapping a girl from way up here and have the problem of transporting her. Unless what actually happened is a lot different then LE is making it appear, I think she's here.

 

[Knox]

Keyes was arrested Tuesday. LE has likely interrogated him, unless he evoked his rights and wouldn't speak.

If Sam were alive, wouldn't he have told them by now?

 

[akmama]

I agree. The only other way I could think to "sneak" across the border would be with a snowmachine (mobile), they go places planes cannot and they are pretty fast. However, I think that is a real far-fetch in this scenario. MOO

I like how you put (mobile) so everyone would know what your talking about.

 

[Deleted member 718]

A ferry to Bellingham might be a possibility. Usually you have to go through customs if you get off in Canada (most south-bound ferry routes end in Prince Rupert, BC, I believe). But I guess you wouldn't have to go through customs if you went to Bellingham. I do think that the ferry only runs to Bellingham once every other week or so.

We are talking about something like a five day ferry trip though. It would be awful hard to keep her hidden in a car that long, right? (Unless she was complicit.)

Yep. Like I said, travelers with pets have access to their vehicles at scheduled times throughout the day. We took the ferry this past summer with our dog and no one ever checked to verify we had a dog when we went down to our car to let her do her business. At most stops you can get off the ferry and walk around. No one ever checked our tickets when we got back on. The rules seemed very "relaxed". I imagine she could have altered her looks and no one would have noticed her. If he rented a berth, she could have stayed there most of the time.

I hope she's alive and left willingly. She may be in trouble for using a fake ID, but what else??? Not much that I can see.

 

[dillysmom11]

Has anyone tied him into locations other than Alaska, Washington, New York, and Texas? I ask because all four of these states are "Border" states. Is it possible that he has some experience in getting people across borders illegally? My thoughts and opinions only.

Wow. Just interesting.

 

[GutFeeling!]

Deleted as requested by other member - for baiting

 

[Knox]

Texas U.S. Attorney's Office: Keyes to be Flown to Alaska for Hearings

The Jefferson County Downtown Jail in Beaumont, Texas confirmed Friday that Keyes is being held at its facility and that he's been there since Wednesday.

The U.S. Attorney's office in Texas said Thursday that Keyes agreed to waive his detention or bail hearing until he gets to Alaska, where all of the court proceedings will happen.

The U.S. Marshals Service will fly Keyes to Alaska through its airlift, which runs weekly, but a spokesperson said it could take up to a month.
http://www.ktuu.com/news/ktuu-texas...wn-to-ak-for-hearings-20120316,0,431592.story