Samantha Koenig Update: Israel Keyes Charged With Federal Kidnapping Of Barista

Samantha Koenig was abducted in February from the coffee stand where she worked allegedly by contractor Israel Keyes who was charged with her kidnapping on April 18.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Federal kidnapping charges were filed Wednesday against a contractor in the death of an 18-year-old Anchorage woman who was abducted from the coffee stand where she worked as a barista.

U.S. Attorney Karen Loeffler announced the charges against Israel Keyes during a news conference Wednesday.

He was indicted and charged with kidnapping that led to the death of Samantha Koenig, who was last seen being led away from the coffee stand by an armed man on Feb. 1. Keyes also was charged with receipt and possession of ransom money and fraud with an access device.

Koenig's body was recovered April 2 by a forensic dive team from Matanuska Lake north of the city.

Anchorage police have said Keyes was the only person of interest in Koenig's disappearance. He was arrested in Texas, accused of using a bank card that didn't belong to Koenig. He's been held in jail since pleading not guilty to the fraud charge on March 27.

"Investigators believe Samantha died within hours of her abduction," Anchorage Police Chief Mark Mew said at the time.

Police released few details of the investigation or Keyes' connection to the case.

"Investigators further believe the person responsible for Samantha's death acted alone, and we are confident that we have that person in custody," he said at the time, not even mentioning Keyes by name.

When Keyes, the owner of an Anchorage construction company, was transferred to Alaska by federal marshals, Koenig's father said she did not know Keyes.

Samantha Koenig was last seen on a surveillance tape at about 8 p.m., Feb. 1, being led away by a man with a weapon from the midtown Anchorage coffee shack where she worked.

Police classified it as an abduction based on Koenig's demeanor and the man's actions from the tape. Police refused to release the tape.

Koenig's family distributed thousands of flyers showing pictures of the missing woman and offered a reward for her return.

A memorial is planned for her Sunday at the West High School auditorium, and the public is invited to attend.

Earlier on HuffPost:

PHOTOS FROM THE SAMANTHA KOENIG FILE:

Loading Slideshow

• Samantha Koenig

  A kidnapper abducted 18-year-old Samantha Koenig at gunpoint from the coffee stand in Alaska where she worked as a barista on Feb. 1.

• Father Offers Reward

  The body of Samantha Koenig was found April 2 by a forensic dive team in Matanuska Lake north of Anchorage, Alaska.

• Samantha Koenig

  Contractor Israel Keyes has been charged with kidnapping Samantha Koenig by federal prosecutors.

• Israel Keyes

  Israel Keyes was charged by federal prosecutors with kidnapping teenaged barista Samantha Koenig in February 2012. Koenig's body was found in a lake north of Anchorage, Alaska by divers in April. His dead body was found in his jail cell on Dec. 2, 2012 in an apparent suicide, according to law enforcement authorities.

• Samantha Koenig Twitter page.

  Source: https://twitter.com/ridethe907

• Samantha Koenig's MySpace profile. Source: http://www.myspace.com/ridethe907ak

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Comments

[Nino Bookman]

06:37 AM on 04/24/2012

"Anchorage police have said Keyes was the only person of interest in Koenig's disappearance. He was arrested in Texas, accused of using a bank card that didn't belong to Koenig. He's been held in jail since pleading not guilty to the fraud charge on March 27."

What's wrong with this statement? It makes no sense to me, but then again it's very early in the morning here.

[Cody30]

09:36 AM on 04/21/2012

So sad how easily people can kill others.Poor girl.

[rewith85man]

01:14 AM on 04/20/2012

Another innocent and beautiful girl gone thanks to another piece of trash.

[scrapper7]

09:54 PM on 04/19/2012

The violence in this world is NEVERENDING. The victims have no say as to the punishment of the offenders. The rights of the PERPETRATORS are treated like GOLD, while the rights of the VICTIMS are TRAMPLED UNDERFOOT. SOMETHING'S GOT TO CHANGE!!!

[Moonshi14]

03:50 PM on 04/19/2012

NEVER GET IN THE CAR! You have a better chance of staying alive if you don't get in the car! Even if he shoots you, if you get the hospital really soon you have like a 90% chance of surviving. Most wounds aren't deadly if treated quickly. Secondly, I'd rather be shoot in the parking lot than have to think of my parents searching for my body!

[voiceofrezn]

03:54 AM on 12/03/2012

good advice- sad but so true. The police teach the same thing at seminars on safety.

[oleperfessur]

03:16 PM on 04/19/2012

I wonder when women will learn that there nany men who are violent preditors. I would not suggest thet they ask for it but,....be smart!

[Carol Lamoureux]

04:55 PM on 04/19/2012

It sounds to me that you might be suggesting that women ask for it. The woman was at work when she was led to a car by an armed man. I agree that people (not just women) need to be more careful, but this is not a scenario where the victim was putting herself in a risky situation.

[oleperfessur]

05:47 PM on 04/19/2012

F aand F. Totally agreee with you. Mostly think of the "old days" when women put themselves in jeoardy with me and were lucky I am not the type to take advantage.

[Bellarain]

02:41 PM on 04/19/2012

You would have to hold me down to stop me from beating that ugly man silly.

[Lorraine Nemeth Perrina]

12:34 PM on 04/19/2012

My heart & prayers go out to her family and friends....it's a senseless loss of life for a very young beautiful girl and her abductor should be spared no mercy as she was spared none...no excuse warrants her sentence...to her family - may your memories at some point grant you comfort and peace.

[freedom1947]

12:07 PM on 04/19/2012

Ran to hide in Texas? Is that where men are allowed to take it if women shun them? Better ask Rickie?

[Ayesha Khan]

11:55 AM on 04/19/2012

Why all these kidnapping and disappearance cases have to end up in a tragic deaths. Every day the rate of these psychopaths are raising, i don't understand why they commit such crimes where finally their own life ends up too.Is there anyway to find out what these criminal wants, what do they get out by such crimes?. So many cases where they don't even spare little kids, even babies. Whats wrong with people? This world is no more a beautiful place-----

[Kvothe]

02:56 PM on 04/19/2012

Believe it or not, violent crimes have been declining. Things like this have happened in all time periods since the beginning. It's just that technology has been communication so fast and widespread, we hear about every minute detail of every incident.

It's just the same old, same old really.

[Carol Lamoureux]

04:57 PM on 04/19/2012

You are absolutely right, Kvothe. At least statistically, there were just as many (or more) weirdos 30 years ago as there are today, but we just have access to more information now.

[Cody30]

09:38 AM on 04/21/2012

By killing the victim men hope to avoid having the act traced back to them.

[Chuck05]

11:02 AM on 04/19/2012

Keyes charged with kidnapping that led to the death of Samantha Koenig? Is that same as premediated murder? Sounds like a light charge for kidnapping & murdering a young girl and tossing her in the lake. Maybe more charges will follow?

[jarjax1632b]

03:31 PM on 04/19/2012

My guess is they are still working on the murder evidence but have enough to charge and hold him under the kidnapping charge.

[nancy kriescher]

06:42 PM on 04/19/2012

Aggravated Kidnapping will likely be added, along with Murder.

[Louie Rey]

10:09 AM on 04/19/2012

Because there are so many psychopaths running around this country you definitely have to make sure that you say to your loved ones that you do love them because it's getting to the point where you don't know if they'll ever come back from work, play, socializing, whatever. The world has gone insane.

[mygailbaby]

10:04 AM on 04/19/2012

Why can't ALL the bad people find each other and off each other? Why do they have to off innocent people minding their own business ALL the time?

[nancy kriescher]

06:48 PM on 04/19/2012

Because with technology, T.V. isolated lifestyles, less communication one on one, people with emotional trauma, or some are just sociopathic by enviroment early on, neglect, abuse, others are born that way. with increased population, the % of these types also increases, crimes like rape, murder, torture, passion,, are on the rise kids, teens adults spouses, partners.. it is an outlet & arrogance that comes to some who spend much time in their mind. going over their perceived victimization, be they sociopath or, just violently unstable folks.:)

[mygailbaby]

10:23 PM on 04/19/2012

You are very correct in your explanation. What's happening is very scary and gets scarier. I just earnestly pray to God to guide and guard me and my loved ones.

Thank you.

[alishac]

09:20 AM on 04/19/2012

by looking at his pic, if it is the one they took after they arrested him for her kidnapping, it looks like he has no remorse for her death. sick individual.

[Dannydel50]

08:58 AM on 04/19/2012

And my daughter doesn't know why I am all over her to pay attention & be careful...and another thing..WHY was this girl working alone?