Leta Lynn Cordes
If you follow SXM news, you will already have seen news reports about Leta Lynn Cordes, who has been missing since the night of January 11, after setting out at around 11PM on foot from her vacation home in the Dawn Beach area, to go gamble at the Westin casino.
I didn't really pay attention to this story at first, though this happened right around the corner from me. However as I was driving along the dirt road from Dawn Beach to the Westin the other day, the road she allegedly walked to reach the casino, I realized that I had been hoping she was another dumb tourist, a silly who was acting irresponsibly, who would turn up soon, shamefaced and hungover, because I don't want to think about anything else having happened to her. I don't want to admit that something went wrong, something out of her control. Something that happened close to where I live, on a road I drive several times a week. I hope she does turn up soon, I hope it has all been a misunderstanding.
I didn't really pay attention to this story at first, though this happened right around the corner from me. However as I was driving along the dirt road from Dawn Beach to the Westin the other day, the road she allegedly walked to reach the casino, I realized that I had been hoping she was another dumb tourist, a silly who was acting irresponsibly, who would turn up soon, shamefaced and hungover, because I don't want to think about anything else having happened to her. I don't want to admit that something went wrong, something out of her control. Something that happened close to where I live, on a road I drive several times a week. I hope she does turn up soon, I hope it has all been a misunderstanding.
News reports have been contradictory, so I've been trying to get them listed so I can figure out what is going on. The biggest question, which now seems to have been answered, has been - did she reach the Westin? At first there were reports that she did. Supposedly a Westin employee told Cordes' husband that a woman who fit her description was seen in an altercation with someone at the Westin, but that story was later retracted. Now however, it seems that she was not seen at the hotel. According to a press release from the Westin, they have been over surveillance footage and she was not seen entering the casino. I read that she was well known to casino employees and no one remembers seeing her.
I also read, from an anonymous poster on TTOL, that they (the anon poster) were staying at the Oyster Bay Beach Resort (OBBR for short) the week that she disappeared, and they were handed a flyer which said Cordes was last seen making a call from the OBBR lobby, and asking anyone who had seen her to come forward. I have not seen any mention of this anywhere else.
One thing I have seen mentioned often is surprise that she would decide to walk the dirt road to the Westin, late at night and alone. Her friend in the US, Cary Honstein, seems to agree that it was common for her to walk this road. This is a road I would be reluctant to walk during the day, let alone in the dark. Here are photos of it:
One thing I have seen mentioned often is surprise that she would decide to walk the dirt road to the Westin, late at night and alone. Her friend in the US, Cary Honstein, seems to agree that it was common for her to walk this road. This is a road I would be reluctant to walk during the day, let alone in the dark. Here are photos of it:
There are only one or two houses that enter and exit off this road, relatively close to Ocean View Terrace, the development where I am told the Cordes' home is. There is a security guard full time at the development across the road, Dawn Beach Estates, but his station is out of sight of the road unless he walks down toward it. Further down toward the Westin there is a lot full of shipping containers, where there is a security guard stationed at night. I see him occasionally when I drive past but normally the guards are out of sight of the road. After there, there is nothing along the road but brush and construction debris until you reach the Westin.
Here is a Google Earth view of the area. It is old however, you can see that at that point the Westin was just a cleared area. The container storage area was not full of containers yet, and Ocean View Terrace only had a few homes whereas now several more have been built:
Here is a Google Earth view of the area. It is old however, you can see that at that point the Westin was just a cleared area. The container storage area was not full of containers yet, and Ocean View Terrace only had a few homes whereas now several more have been built:
Here is a media roundup from a missing persons site, and here are some of the stories, listed by date:
- January 16th story from Orange County - Cordes' husband has offered his passport to the police, wants all focus on search for Cordes.
- Video from January 17th, which mentions the now retracted sighting of Cordes at the Westin
- Video from the 19th, Cary Honstein says Westin had not turned over surveillance footage until then.
- Brief recap of situation from January 22, police have found no sign of foul play so this is still treated as a missing person case, not a crime.
- Daily Herald article from the 23rd, with mention of the Westin press release stating she is not seen on surveillance footage.
- January 23rd - FBI has offered to help SXM in investigation, SXM Prosecutor Taco Stein undecided.
- Story from the 23rd which mentions a domestic violence call from last year at the Cordes' home in CA.
- Anonymous TTOL post, January 23rd, saying she was seen at OBBR.
- Son Rory back in the US, US Consulate sending representative to SXM, some new photos of Cordes.
Here are some screen grabs of photos of Leta Lynn Cordes. I hope she is found soon.
15 comments:
HI Jess
very nice blog on the missing woman.
I have been following this story carefully. It has been picked up by American media, of course, and has been discussed throughly over on TTOL.
I am upset at the lack of coverage of this case on the part of the local papers, although this morning there were some articles in both papers.
I actually sent a letter to TDH asking why they were not reporting more regularly on this. When people don't receive proper information, I think they then start making things up, and that's never good.
I received an answer from TDH, saying
"We’ve had at least four articles on the subject. There is simply no news because she has not been found. They are searching today again and we’ll probably have a report on that tomorrow. Just because the US media and bloggers have to constantly go on about it when there is nothing to report does not mean we have to."
I don't know. I am concerned by the lack of coverage. I am concerned that after 2 weeks, they still have it listed as a missing person case, rather than a possible crime.
I am not sure what it takes to list it as a crime. No evidence means no crime I guess.
I hope this doesn't blow up in our faces and , more importantly, I hope she is OK and is found to be safe somewhere.
Barbara
Hey Barbara: Very defensive response from TDH, too bad. I think there are already enough comparisons (online) to Aruba that they are getting their backs up in advance. A side picture plea for any information would go a long way.
I actually had the mother of a vacationing family tell me she will never go to Aruba again because of the handling of the Holloway case. I also read on a missing persons board a call for boycott of all Netherlands Antilles islands. Argh.
Missing person vs. crime: I think it is the same in the US - it is assumed that an adult, unless he or she is not responsible for themselves or impaired in some way, is missing by choice unless there is any evidence otherwise.
I hope she is missing by her won choice, I really do. Not a fantastic outcome but...
Hello this is Leta's friend Cary Honstein. First I wanted to thank you for your blog regarding Leta. I am curious where the information came from regarding the Flyers passed out stating she was seen on a pay phone @ Oyster Beach? Thanks -
Hi Jess:
Thanks so much for a very thorough synopsis and subsequent discussion about our Leta.
At this point did not know her disappearance is still considered a missing person and not a possible crime! Very upsetting for the family.
To know my daughter and Leta's relationship you would know that Leta has never gone one day in 20 years where she has not spoken to Cary. To be silent for 2 weeks today is very telling.
Thanks again for your posting keep up the good work. And I agree about that road, unthinkable to walk it at night!
Judy
Knowing Leta, if she wanted to walk to the Westin, she would. Scary road or not.
Thanks for a great blog. For friends of the Cordeses, any news helps.
What's the terrain like around the road? On the google earth pic it looks deserted, but as i understand it, the area has been extensively developed recently. Do people live there?
Hi Cary: I linked the page - if you click on the link and then scroll to the bottom, it is the last post. Unfortunately it is anonymous. If I find out anything else I will post it here.
Hi Judy: Thanks for commenting here. If I find anything else I will update. I am not sure what I can do to help but am open to suggestions.
Hi Klas: The road is still undeveloped. The only difference is that there are more homes in the Cordes' neighborhood, and the brush has been cleared somewhat on the side where the container storage lot is marked - there are tons of containers, (presumably why there is a guard there) and further toward the Westin is a sewage treatment plant, which is not very big. The pictures I posted of the road are only from a few months ago.
Best wishes to all Leta Lynn Cordes' family and friends.
Hi Jess,
Thank you for your coverage of this case and for your thoughtful comments. My family has a vacation home in Dawn Beach Estates and all of us are following this case.
Of course it didn't help to be reminded by a neighbor that a French woman's murdered, raped body was found somewhere in this same area a little over a year ago. It seems that that case has also not been solved.
Like you, I am also puzzled that in the current case, she went walking on that road late at night. Even in our gated community, we don't stroll in the neighborhood after dark (at least nobody I know does) and we never leave our windows or terrace doors open much after dark since there have been armed robberies in the area. However, I don't want to blame the victim - I do wish it were safer on this island.
Thank you also for posting the nice photos of Leta Lynn Cordes. Unfortunately, the "official" photo released by the police is unlikely to garner the same sort of sympathy received in the Holloway case. I am ashamed to admit that upon seeing the photo in the paper our collective first reaction was quite dismissive, as if the photo explained everything and that if something terrible happened to her, it must have been her "fault". I now regret that reaction, but it is one that is important to keep in mind trying to figure out how to keep the story in the media. Missing persons cases never receive equal treatment in the media. It is the young, innocent seeming, and white who always get the most attention.
Hi anon from DBE: Thanks for commenting here. I am very discouraged that no sign of Cordes has been found.
I think a lot of people's reactions were the same as you mention - unfortunately the first stories all emphasized that she had been drinking, and the picture of her dressed to go out only reinforced the idea. I think choosing a picture for the newspaper of your missing friend or family member, and describing her, is a very hard task when you are worried and not already media savvy - you don't realize that the first impression made by these is sometimes the only chance you get.
Its ridiculous that anyone should have to think of "public relations" when a loved one has disappeared. There is so much information out there for us to process however, there does not seem to be much other choice.
Hi, I stayed at the Westin St. Martin from Jan 5-18th 2008. I heard of Mrs. Cordes disappearance from listening to my transistor radio. At the time, I expected the police to be interviewing everyone, including the guests.
Showing her picture etc. I also think they should talk to the Westin taxi drivers. They seem to know alot of what goes on. I talked to the taxi drivers and the police had not talked to them.
One driver told me he knew Mrs. Cordes and had driven her before.
If it was my husband who was missing believe me, I would personally round up a group of people with her picture in hand, going around talking to anyone and everyone - the very next day. I would also have hired people on my own to help search everywhere.
I am sure you could hire regular citizens to help search the island. I would leave no stone unturned. I am saying all this because I had the strong impression the police are not too agressive. I heard on my radio they mentioned their resources were limited to search for her.
Also, the police on the French and Dutch side don't always cooperate with each other.
I read the island had 50 strong arm robberies of retail establishments in Oct-Nov 07. Also, there is a problem with guns being sold illegally on the French side of the island.
We were told when we first arrived not to walk anywhere, especially outside the hotel. My husband wanted to walk next door during the daytime and was told not to.
The Westin hotel advised us to only use their taxi drivers and when returning from a day trip, make sure to have the same driver bring us back. I wonder if they knew something we didn't.
I felt alot safer on Grand Cayman than St. Martin. Who is searching for Mrs. Cordes now?
I hope Mrs. Cordes is found safe and maybe she was just angry with her husband.
Hi Jess
There is a video over @ zebrabot.com/ I don't know what to make of it.
www.zebrabot.com
Considerations:
First off, I don't know about the rest of you but if my wife was missing for a day I would literally freak. Beyond that and I'd go crazy mad. I would offer $5,000. if my Corvette were stolen. If it were my wife (assuming we loved each other ...kink), the reward money would be everything I could beg, borrow or steal. If it were $100,000 minimum, remember rats even squeal on rats!
On the other hand, is it anywhere possible that Leta simply boarded a yacht and disappeared into wide blue sea with someone she might have met there long ago?
This whole matter gets fuzzier by the day, and I honestly smell foul play on one side or the other. I do feel very sad for those who are family and friends.
Hi anonymous posters:
Anon who stayed at the Westin: I was off island when Cordes disappeared so I don't know what the initial response was. I think the info that she had been drinking was detrimental to the search, I think people took it less seriously at first because of that. I have been surprised not to see missing posters all around. I did read somewhere that Cordes' husband said he paid for some searches. I also read that the French side has just given permission for searchers to go there, I don't know if permission was applied for earlier on in the search or not.
People walk the road from the Westin to Oyster Pond often, though traditionally it is a spot where you hear about muggings by people on scooters who then run over the border to take advantage of jurisdictional confusion. Since the Westin opened I have heard of one 3AM robbery on the road in front of the Westin, and one late night mugging on the beach. I have been thinking that the Westin needs to provide shuttle service for their guests, so that they might go to nearby shops and restaurants without having to pay for a cab.
Anon "considerations": I read in the paper yesterday that the family has raised the reward to $25K. I do hope she got on a yacht somewhere, that would be a good result, but from what I have read of her it does not sound like she would go this long without calling her son or best friend.
This has to be one of the strangest stories I have ever read. I have followed Leta's disappearance since it hit the media here in the states. It is unbelievable that so little is being reported. It seems that in the best interest of St. Maartin, official's and travel bureaus would be all over this case. I personally am traveling to t. Barth at the end of this month, and must now deal not only with dengue fever, the high cost of the Euro, the messy transfer at SXM and now to top it all of CRIME. Perhaps there is a reality to "staying at home", but is anyone safe anywhere anymore?
Wow, Missing 41 days and everyone has already stopped talking about Leta. Now current news on her whereabouts, so I guess thats it. How sad an ending.
Shame that the people keep saying that there has been very little in the media. The guy from the Today Newspaper on the island has written a load of different articles and even interviewed the husband.
I think that the truth will get out eventually and the police will get their man.
Has the husband done a lie detctor test yet? Probably not.
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