Arrest Made in Koenig Abduction

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By Bill McAllister
Bio | Email By Kirsten Swann

Story Created: Mar 15, 2012 at 3:45 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Mar 18, 2012 at 1:00 PM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - (Video of the arrest, courtesy of KTRE in Texas...) Anchorage police have confirmed a man arrested in East Texas is connected with the abduction of 18-year-old Samantha Koenig a month-and-a-half ago.

Israel Keyes, 34, was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon in Lufkin, Texas. FBI agents, Texas Rangers and Department of Public Safety investigators said there was enough evidence in Keyes’ white car to connect him with an out-of-state kidnapping.

Thursday, Anchorage police confirm he was arrested on charges related to Koenig’s disappearance.

According to court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Pierce County, Texas, Keyes faces one count of Access Device Fraud, a charge often associated with using another person's bank card to retrieve funds or information.

Security camera footage shows Koenig was taken by an armed man from her job at Common Grounds Espresso coffee stand in Midtown Anchorage around 8 p.m. on February 1.

Detectives with the Anchorage Police Department said they still do not know whether Koenig is alive or dead, but call the arrest part of a multi-jurisdictional investigation into her whereabouts.

Tuesday evening, police searched Keyes’ home on the 2400 block of Spurr Lane for more than ten hours, but would not release details as to the nature of their investigation. According the neighbors, Keyes lived at that location for roughly two years, but the house is registered to Kimberly Anderson.

Keyes owns Keyes Construction, and came to Alaska in 2007 from Neah Bay, Washington. His neighbors on Spurr Lane said Keyes had moved there about two years ago, and lived in the quiet, blue-painted house with his girlfriend and a young child. They said he had been on vacation "out of state" for some time.

Soon after moving into his home on Spurr Lane, neighbors said he did extensive remodeling. They said he he lived with his girlfriend with a little girl. KTVA does not know at this time if she is his, hers or theirs.

None of his neighbors knew Keyes on a personal level. "Nothing suspicious at all, except that he worked hard. You know, he was always on the go," said Russell Gunderson.

Keyes served three years in the army at Fort Lewis, Fort Hood and Egypt. In 2000 he was honorably discharged.

He is currently held at a federal facility in Beaumont, Texas.

Police are asking anyone who has had contact with Keyes since January 1 or have knowledge of his business or Koenig’s whereabouts to call 1-800-225-5324.

 

 
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