Samantha Koenig Still Missing After a Month

Police and family still have hope, they say

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By Corey Allen-Young
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Story Created: Mar 1, 2012 at 8:48 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Mar 1, 2012 at 9:01 PM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - It has been one month since an armed man kidnapped Samantha Koenig from Common Grounds Espresso.

The Anchorage Police Department (APD) has shared very little information about the case, which has caused community frustration.

Police said their mission is very clear. Even though they have no new developments to report, APD said there should be no doubt in people's minds that they are working this case hard and will continue to do so until they find Koenig.

“Every time a new lead comes in or we generate a lead, we follow up on those leads,” said APD spokesman Lieutenant Dave Parker. “We are eliminating people as suspects, eliminating things that aren't related to the case.”

As the search for Samantha Koenig goes into its second month, a combination of detectives and officers are working around the clock to figure out who took her and why.

APD hasn’t released any of the surveillance video from the coffee stand, but police said they are holding it back fro a good reason.

“Let us deal with the real life situation and make sure we don't give away information that might be of help to the kidnappers or that might taint a jury in the future,” Lieutenant Parker said.

In the meantime her family said they are optimistic that she will be found alive. “This is probably the largest case they've had to work on, and without a doubt they are doing everything they can, with the information that they have and are finding,” said James Koenig, Samantha's father.

“We're hoping to find Samantha,” said Parker. “We believe we will find her alive and we carry hope within us as we go through a case like this.”

“I have to keep my spirits up, and know that my heart still feels her, and she's okay and she'll be here,” said James Koenig.

Police said the community can still help by being aware and reporting anyone who resembles her or reporting anything out of the ordinary.

Please call 786-8900 with any new information.
 
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