St. Maarten Private Eye

Cordes Says Prosecutor Ducking Him

Dawn Beach: -- The husband of missing American Leta Lynn Cordes is not too happy with Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein whom he said is ducking the family. Frank Cordes in an interview with SMN News yesterday said that he has sent Stein at least three emails and has called his office on several occasions requesting either a sit in or teleconference meeting. “each time I call the secretary keeps saying he is off island, in a meeting or he is busy, I also sent him emails telling him the two families he is in contact with is not authorized to speak on behalf of the family of Leta” Frank said.

He further explained that they the family which includes Leta Lynn’s son Rory Bryant her brother Jim and himself have some very simple questions for Stein. Asked what those questions might be Frank Cordes said that they want to know what are the progress and or status of the investigation surrounding the disappearance of his wife. He further explained that the family wants to know why he (Stein) is refusing to allow the FBI into the investigation as well as the conniver dogs that they wanted to bring here to comb the island.

The man said that his brother in law also wants to ask Stein about the mugging that took place in Dawn Beach a day or two prior to his sister’s disappearance. He said that his brother in law reads all newspapers coming out of St. Maarten and according to his brother in law there was a news article that stated a couple was held at gun point in the same area where Leta Lyn disappeared. “Jim wants to know if these muggers were captured and if so when and if the detectives questioned them concerning Leta Lynn Cordes, these questions are simple questions and we do not intend to embarrass law enforcement on St. Maarten” Frank explained.

As for the two people who have been in touch with Stein and one reporter on the island has withdrawn the reward monies that some seven people contributed to Frank said. He explained that he is leaving the island today for the USA so that he can sort out the monetary issues with the former friends of his wife. The man said that these two people took monies that did not belong to them and now they are saying that each person who contributed should ask them back for their monies individually. He said that almost everyone did just that and he is going to see if the monies he gave was sent back to his US address, if not he would have to seek legal action to retrieve the reward monies.

Leta Lynn Cordes went missing on January 11 2008. Her husband Frank Cordes said that she went on foot to the Westin casino to gamble. The woman who is well known in the area he said was under the influence of alcohol when she walked the dark bushy road leading to Westin. Management of Westin in a press release indicated that the woman never made it that night to the casino because she is nowhere on their surveillance tape. Police K-9 dogs searched several areas on the Dutch and French sides, as well as Dog Island. Police Spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard also initiated a massive manhunt for the missing woman which did not yield any positive results.

Responding to the allegations Stein said that he did receive three mails from Cordes and in one of those mails he asked for a meeting. The island Chief Prosecutor said that when he got the mail he was in Curacao and did not respond to the mail, however he did respond to the other emails that was related to other matters. He said that he just got back to St. Maarten and would schedule a meeting for Cordes if he contacts his office again or the man he said can either send his questions by mail and he would also respond to them as he did before.
Anyone with information surrounding missing American Leta Lynn Cordes can contact the police station. resource: smn-news

A $75,000 reward is being offered for information leading to finding Leta Cordes unharmed, or the prosecution of anyone who may have done her harm.

Website about the reward

A search is going on in Dawn Beach...

Search for Leta Cordes

TTOL resource