Cordes insists not involved
in his wife’s disappearance
~ Curious about Westin’s statements ~
BUSH ROAD--Frank Cordes, husband of missing US citizen Leta Lynn Cordes, lashed out Monday at suggestions that he might have been involved in his wife’s disappearance.
Cordes told The Daily Herald the suggestions had been made and continued to be made on the Internet and apparently were based on a domestic disturbance call he had made a year ago when he and his wife had been engaged in a scuffle over medical insurance (not life insurance as had been reported by some sections of the media).
He said his wife had come after him with a knife and he had reported the situation.
He said Leta Cordes’ family would be releasing an advertisement countering the allegations.
Cordes insisted he was not a violent person. He admitted Leta had issues, as she had been taking anti-depressants that would make her “psychotic” and “temperamental” if not taken regularly. However, he said, in response to her behaviour on occasion he had never felt it appropriate to argue with her, as sometimes she would be drunk as well.
Cordes strongly believes something happened to his wife in the vicinity of The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort & Spa. His belief is based on what he considers inconsistent statements by the resort’s management and employees who, he said, had indicated the day after Leta went missing that she had been seen entering the Westin casino, but then had stated otherwise 12 days later.
Cordes said he did not hold the resort liable for his wife’s disappearance, but believed that, as the security system at the casino was in its infant stage and employees might be pressured by management, previous statements were being denied based on uncertainty. Additionally, he said, to his knowledge one of the security officers at the casino is a police officer and apparently had only released security camera footage of that night to one other police officer.
He said Leta could or could not have been seen on the specific footage, but all areas around the casino were not equipped with cameras. Therefore, he assumes Leta could have had an altercation in the bathrooms or could have met someone, gone back to their room and left with them, although she did not have her passport with her.
In an invited comment, the manager on duty at the resort stated that the resort’s statement remained that she had never made it to the resort’s vicinity.
Cordes said his mother had arrived from Germany in the afternoon of the night his wife had disappeared, and could account for the 10 minutes he had taken to drive to and from the resort after Leta had left on foot for the casino. He said he had not gone past the resort’s gate, as he had assumed Leta was safe once in the vicinity of the resort.
He said no statements had been taken from his mother, because she could only speak German. However, his mother was there when Leta, who was intoxicated and had been sleeping in the car, entered the house demanding US $200 to go to the casino. He said he had refused to give her the money as he did not want her to leave the house in the state she was in. Leta, he said, became upset and went upstairs. After 10 to 15 minutes he went upstairs and discovered that she was gone.
As police authorities are now targeting him, Cordes said it had ruined his reputation. He said assumptions were being formalised based on opinions instead of facts. He said that as a result, Leta’s family, who did not suspect his involvement, was looking into having the FBI investigate The Westin and demand that the security tapes of the night be revealed.
In the meantime, the US $5,000 reward is still being offered to anyone coming forward with valid information on her disappearance.
