Slavomir Markowitz

So we knew it was a white Chevy pickup truck that the suspect was using.

So we knew it was a white Chevy pickup truck that the suspect was using.

There are 700 white Chevrolet pickup trucks in Anchorage and the area. So, of course, when you have that many vehicles, it takes a long time.

There are 700 white Chevrolet pickup trucks in Anchorage and the area. So, of course, when you have that many vehicles, it takes a long time.

It was a stranger abduction. During that time period, we told the media we have a video, and it's apparent from the video that it's kidnapping.

It was a stranger abduction. During that time period, we told the media we have a video, and it's apparent from the video that it's kidnapping.

And there was a lot of public demand. You know, we want to see the video. Why doesn't police department want to release the video? Police say it will not help them solve the crime.

And there was a lot of public demand. You know, we want to see the video. Why doesn't police department want to release the video? Police say it will not help them solve the crime.

James Koenig pretty much called me daily. Slav, do you have anything new for me? Slav, is there anything we could do? He would tell me about his fundraising efforts. Of course, I had a lot of sympathy for him. My daughter at the time was working in a coffee stand. So, you know, I'm a police officer, but I'm also a father, and my daughter is in a very similar situation.

James Koenig pretty much called me daily. Slav, do you have anything new for me? Slav, is there anything we could do? He would tell me about his fundraising efforts. Of course, I had a lot of sympathy for him. My daughter at the time was working in a coffee stand. So, you know, I'm a police officer, but I'm also a father, and my daughter is in a very similar situation.

You know, if it happened to Samantha, it could happen to somebody else. As days pass by, we are following up the leads, and we are hitting a wall everywhere.

You know, if it happened to Samantha, it could happen to somebody else. As days pass by, we are following up the leads, and we are hitting a wall everywhere.

and suddenly we get this big break.

and suddenly we get this big break.

It's the first big break that happened in the case since obtaining some video evidence three weeks earlier.

It's the first big break that happened in the case since obtaining some video evidence three weeks earlier.

There was a photo of a young woman. She's naked, she's bound, her hair is braided, she's got duct tape over her mouth. The photo was very disturbing. It was a thumbnail-sized image. The more we enlarged it, the more grainy it was becoming.

There was a photo of a young woman. She's naked, she's bound, her hair is braided, she's got duct tape over her mouth. The photo was very disturbing. It was a thumbnail-sized image. The more we enlarged it, the more grainy it was becoming.

I contacted James Koenig. If it was really his daughter, I knew that it was going to be heartbreaking for him to see that photo. It was just me and James Koenig in the interview room. And I put the photo in front of him. He stared at it for a long time. And then he said, yes, it is Samantha in the photo. I saw him as a grieving father. He was worried sick and it was, you know, genuine.

I contacted James Koenig. If it was really his daughter, I knew that it was going to be heartbreaking for him to see that photo. It was just me and James Koenig in the interview room. And I put the photo in front of him. He stared at it for a long time. And then he said, yes, it is Samantha in the photo. I saw him as a grieving father. He was worried sick and it was, you know, genuine.