French Quarter: --- Several local media personalities including CBS and NBC stormed over to Dawn Beach at the home of Frank Cordes in the hope of speaking with the husband of missing American Leta Lynn Cordes. Frank Cordes grabbed the opportunity to further declare his innocence in the disappearance of his wife, while bashing the Today Newspaper and their reporter David Mc Gregor. Cordes felt that the Today Newspaper maybe responsible for his arrest namely the reporter who are working closely with the search team and the friends of Leta Lynn Cordes.
In answering questions as to why he was not part of the search that is taking place yesterday and the day before he said he was not invited and did not feel he should be the one to crush their party. Cordes responded to questions surrounding the insurance monies and other allegations towards their uphill marriage. He said he did not have an extra marital relationship neither did he think his wife had one. Asked if he felt his wife ran away he said he did not want to speculate anymore but he did not feel anyone would have survived over a year without their own belongings.
However, Frank Cordes maintained his innocence in the disappearance and possible murder of his wife Leta Lynn Cordes.
He also accused police of doing a lousy job on the investigation and said police did not search his home immediately after he reported his wife was missing. He described the prosecutors as over zealous. He said during his last meeting with Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein on September 4th he made it clear that he was not happy with the way the investigation was going. Cordes said he told Stein in that meeting on more than one occasion they did not conduct a through investigation since no one from the police department never really searched his house or car even though he is considered the prime suspect.
Cordes said there should be more protection laws for person's considered as suspects in any case in the Netherlands Antilles.
It is understood that police only visited the home of the couple three days after she was reported as missing. The first time police laid foot at the house is when they accompanied Elaine Karas. Karas is a long time friend of the family and is the first one to initiate a massive search on the island. Right now Karas and Cordes are not on speaking terms, and she is the one that is spearheading the two day search that is presently taking place on the French side of the island. Cordes said despite his wife's disappearance his wife's relatives are on good terms with him and it's only her friends that have accused him thus far.
The rush to Frank's house came after the police and those in search of the body of the missing woman decided to bar the media from the locations where the search was taking place yesterday morning. It is understood that the media frenzy on the first day of the search distracted the search team. While the investigating officers namely the RST prefers to remain discreet in their operations as they try to protect their identity.
The team focused mainly on the end of Coconut Grove and that the back of the Mac Carter residence in Baie de L'Embouchure better known as Lameshot. An area that is often frequented by local fishermen and one of the places that is known for disposal of dead bodies. Some years ago passersby found the body of Fanella Duzong a young woman who was murdered by unknown persons. It is also understood that other dead bodies were recovered in that area years ago including the body of a metropolitan man whose scooter and other personal items was stolen from him.
Even though St. Martin/ St. Maarten is a small island the amount of unsolved murders on both sides of the island is alarming. With a quick flashback one can quickly remember murder victims Brenda Azile whose decomposed body was found in Oyster Pond, 11 years ago, Fanella Dunzong, and Angelique Chauvire whose mutilated body was found in Dawn Beach; to date police on either side was not able to bring those responsible for the murder of these three young women to justice. Just last year there were 13 murders on the Dutch side while at least eight of them are unsolved.
While the search is expected to come to an end with the Police and the Security companies that have volunteered to search for the missing woman. The Americans who wound be on the island for the rest of the week plans to continue searching for their friend. Elaine Karas and Cary Honstein told reporters yesterday they would continue looking in areas they believe can yield something positive. They said they would be using the cadaver dogs they brought in with them. The two women insisted that they want to find the body so that they can give the woman a decent burial, while their biggest hope is for authorities to find evidence to bring the culprit or culprits to justice.
Karas and Honstein believed police handled the case professionally and that they really do not have much to work with. Even though there maybe a lot it is all circumstantial.
Late yesterday afternoon the dogs gave the searchers a few more hints which made them stayed on later than expected but no body was found.
