Alaska divers believe they have found the body of missing 18-year-old barista Samantha Koenig, MSNBC is reporting. The believed body of Koenig, who was abducted two months ago from a drive-up coffee stand, was recovered in Matanuska Lake. The icy lake is about 35 miles northeast of Anchorage.
Police Chief Mark Mew said forensic tests will be performed to confirm if the body is indeed Koenig. Investigators believe she died on February 1, hours after being abducted from the Anchorage stand. “Investigators further believe that the person responsible for (Samantha’s) death acted alone, and we’re confident we have that person in custody,” Mew said. He added that charges for the kidnapping and murder of Koenig will be forthcoming.
Israel Keyes, a 34-year-old anchorage construction contractor, is the sole person being held in connection with Koenig’s disappearance. He was arrested in Lufkin, Texas last month, and was charged in federal court with illegally using another person’s bank card to withdraw money. He pleaded innocent, and is currently being held without bail.
Koenig’s disappearance came after she was forced from her coffee stand at the end of her evening shift. What appears to be an armed man was visible on a security camera video. While the video hasn’t been released to the public, police say a thin white man abducted the barista.
Written by: Karen Benardello
