Few Details Known About Person of Interest in Koenig Abduction

Many questions remain about 34-year-old Israel Keyes

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By Bill McAllister
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Story Created: Mar 19, 2012 at 4:48 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Mar 19, 2012 at 9:34 PM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - Information on the person of interest in the abduction of Samantha Koenig has been barely trickling out in the week since he was arrested in Texas.

Few details are known about 34-year-old Israel Keyes.

Keyes spent part of his youth in Utah, where a former babysitter says the family was Mormon and the children were home-schooled.

Keyes apparently fell away from the faith, describing himself as an atheist on what appears to be his MySpace page.

He served a stint in the army and was honorably discharged, although soon afterward he was convicted of driving under the influence and other traffic-related charges.

Keyes ran a marathon in Olympia, Washington, in 2006.

A carpenter, he did work for an Indian tribe in Washington before moving to Anchorage in 2007.

In Alaska, he is registered to vote as a Democrat.

He is the proprietor of Keyes Construction.

His connection to Samantha Koenig, if any, is unknown.

He made a court appearance before a U.S. magistrate in Beaumont, Texas, on Thursday. He is charged with access device fraud, which could be the use of someone else's ATM card or credit card. He used the card between February 28 and March 13, in Alaska .

According to the court transcript, he spoke three times for a total of twelve words, thanking the magistrate for allowing him to waive hearings in Texas and have them conducted in Alaska instead.

Anchorage police say they do not know when the U.S. Marshal's Service will transport Keyes.

APD spokeswoman Marlene Lammers says Keyes has been identified only as a person of interest, not as a suspect.

CBS 11 news has filed a freedom of information request with police for the videotape of Samantha’s abduction on February 1.

Police have withheld it so far on the grounds that could jeopardize the investigation or prosecution.

For the full transcript of Keyes Federal Court Hearing click here.
 

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Tex said on Tuesday, Mar 20 at 8:41 AM

There are many more FOIA requests that can be filed and can be made available. The fact that a news service up there is actually doing it puts them ahead of the rest. next we need some real questions asked and the denied answers printed. APD has had their chance to find Samantha without the assistance of the publc, it isn't working, it is over 40 days. Time to change plans.

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huh said on Monday, Mar 19 at 10:59 PM

No way a FOIA request will be granted for an ongoing investigation.

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Tex said on Monday, Mar 19 at 10:23 PM

Thank Goodness one media source is filing freedom of information requests. Please tell me there will be more filed. Well done! A media source that is actually trying to do the story!

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