Jeffrey Bell

My name is Jeffrey Bell. I came up here in 1984. I worked in Prudhoe Bay in the oil fields as a operator in a refinery up there. And then I applied to be an Anchorage police officer. I worked for the Anchorage Police Department, but I was also sworn as a U.S. Marshal slash FBI investigator.

My name is Jeffrey Bell. I came up here in 1984. I worked in Prudhoe Bay in the oil fields as a operator in a refinery up there. And then I applied to be an Anchorage police officer. I worked for the Anchorage Police Department, but I was also sworn as a U.S. Marshal slash FBI investigator.

Once we found that somebody returned to the coffee shop and took her cell phone, obviously we became very concerned that something bad had happened to her.

Once we found that somebody returned to the coffee shop and took her cell phone, obviously we became very concerned that something bad had happened to her.

For 48 hours or so in any case is important to try to develop as many leads as you can. Because James Koenig and Wayne didn't report her missing the night before, we were already way behind the power curve in Samantha's Friends and family describe Samantha as someone who makes you feel like a best friend.

For 48 hours or so in any case is important to try to develop as many leads as you can. Because James Koenig and Wayne didn't report her missing the night before, we were already way behind the power curve in Samantha's Friends and family describe Samantha as someone who makes you feel like a best friend.

The city of Anchorage was on heightened alert.

The city of Anchorage was on heightened alert.

The response from the public was overwhelmingly supportive of the Koenig family in trying to do anything that they could to help.

The response from the public was overwhelmingly supportive of the Koenig family in trying to do anything that they could to help.

A few minutes after it was taken from the truck, the debit card was used to check the balance. The account was accessed, but no money was taken.

A few minutes after it was taken from the truck, the debit card was used to check the balance. The account was accessed, but no money was taken.

The person was in a mask, had a big puffy jacket on, so you really couldn't tell how big that person was.

The person was in a mask, had a big puffy jacket on, so you really couldn't tell how big that person was.

As a matter of routine, we would want to investigate James Koenig's home, where Samantha lived, to look for any information on her computers or tablets, which is pretty standard in a missing persons case, especially with younger kids. And he refused to let the police department do the initial search.

As a matter of routine, we would want to investigate James Koenig's home, where Samantha lived, to look for any information on her computers or tablets, which is pretty standard in a missing persons case, especially with younger kids. And he refused to let the police department do the initial search.

Ultimately, investigators got a search warrant to search Mr. Koenig's house. At the time, we thought maybe he was hiding a marijuana grow or something. But that turned out to be nothing.

Ultimately, investigators got a search warrant to search Mr. Koenig's house. At the time, we thought maybe he was hiding a marijuana grow or something. But that turned out to be nothing.

We ultimately recovered video from the Home Depot store, which is across the street from where the kiosk was.

We ultimately recovered video from the Home Depot store, which is across the street from where the kiosk was.

James Koenig established a reward fund. There was a lot of people that knew the Koenigs, and so a lot of money started rolling into Mr. Koenig's account.

James Koenig established a reward fund. There was a lot of people that knew the Koenigs, and so a lot of money started rolling into Mr. Koenig's account.

Nobody knew what that meant. We believed that it was, in fact, from the person who had taken Samantha, or at least had her phone at this point.

Nobody knew what that meant. We believed that it was, in fact, from the person who had taken Samantha, or at least had her phone at this point.

911, what is the location of the emergency?

911, what is the location of the emergency?

In the note, he is telling us that once he collects $30,000 in six months to a year, then he will give information potentially where Samantha's at. Along with the ransom note, there was a photo, potentially a proof of life photo.

In the note, he is telling us that once he collects $30,000 in six months to a year, then he will give information potentially where Samantha's at. Along with the ransom note, there was a photo, potentially a proof of life photo.

And within six hours, just before midnight, the debit card is used. He withdrew $500.

And within six hours, just before midnight, the debit card is used. He withdrew $500.

There was a silver Nissan Xterra SUV. We believe the person that used the car had gotten out of that vehicle, walked over to the ATM, and then came back and got in that vehicle and left the area.

There was a silver Nissan Xterra SUV. We believe the person that used the car had gotten out of that vehicle, walked over to the ATM, and then came back and got in that vehicle and left the area.

For the next several days, we're constantly doing surveillance on the ATM machines in hopes that we can be present for the next withdrawal.

For the next several days, we're constantly doing surveillance on the ATM machines in hopes that we can be present for the next withdrawal.

The more time that went by, the more concerned everybody was for Samantha Koenig.

The more time that went by, the more concerned everybody was for Samantha Koenig.

So in coordination with the Texas Rangers and the FBI in Texas, we put out a bolo and be on the lookout for the information that we had recovered from each ATM that he had used along the way.

So in coordination with the Texas Rangers and the FBI in Texas, we put out a bolo and be on the lookout for the information that we had recovered from each ATM that he had used along the way.

There was talk about whether it was really an abduction or was it a boyfriend or was it somebody that she knew and they were just stealing the money to go away somewhere.

There was talk about whether it was really an abduction or was it a boyfriend or was it somebody that she knew and they were just stealing the money to go away somewhere.

A lot of people go missing and are never found.

A lot of people go missing and are never found.