Leta Cordes Disappearance Now Appears To Be More Than A Missing Person Investigation Citing “New Evidence”
On October 1st, 2008, the Dutch Prosecutor’s Office released an official statement citing the discovery of “new evidence” related to the disappearance of Leta Cordes. Officials have not stated what this evidence is exactly, but they have revealed they are now working with nearly a half a dozen different agencies including the French St. Martin Authorities, the Royal Dutch Marechaussees, the Kingdom Cooperation Detective Team RST, the Police Force, the FBI, and California Homicide Detectives.
“The fact that we have sent out a press release should state the fact that we are not going to be saying anymore more about it at the moment,” Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein recently told The Daily Herald newspaper on the island.
According to The Daily Herald, the case still remains in the hands of Dutch Authorities even with the cooperation of other agencies.
The Daily Herald also states that Leta Corde’s U.S. and St. Maarten homes we’re both searched within the last few weeks raising suspicions of Frank Cordes, Leta’s husband.
This news has brought reaffirmed hope to Friends of Leta, and has made us more determined than ever to find her, and bring to justice anyone who has done her harm. We miss you and love you Leta!
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
It’s about time!
Frank Cordes, you are going down.
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:32 pm
I am dissappointed and relieved. After all this time you know the worst is the most probable, but I was still hoping for a happy ending. I feel that there had to be more than one person involved to cover their tracks so well.
I know they can’t say anything that could possibly harm the investigation, which no friend of Leta’s wants.
I hope they live a horrible, tormented life in prison as some gnarly gangs bitch, since we don’t seem to carry out the death penalty much in North America… I wish we would.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Frank Cordes has been arrested.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:27 am
My sense is she is not buried she is in the water
March 12th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
I watched the show this morning on the early show. WOW what a case, I feel like I am watching the Natalie Holloway case all over again. Let’s put all the facts on the table: wife goes missing, 10:50pm. Did she have a cell phone? was any articles of hers recovered???? Was she found on any video in the casino? WHY would her husband allow her to travel alone at night???Did he do this before? if not why that night? Was she really missing earlier than that?????? There are two options and two options ONLY - the husband did it and not in the house, He KILLED HER somewhere else and put her in the sea it would take too long to bury her…. or SOMEONE TOOK HER and she was sold in prostitution somewhere or killed by another.
there is nothing to a polygraph?! They DONT lie, the human does! So Frank just do it, what are you so worried about - OH you are waiting for them to declare her legally dead or missing so you can claim all the money!!! I get it. This situtation really stinks and because she was an american citizen the FBI has all rights to her no matter where she was, just like if she were a terroist, they would go into St. Marten and find her! WHAT’S UP american GOVERNMENT, she is just as important as a suspected terrorist dont’ you think? This is a human being ANOTHER missing person in the ISLANDS, WTF get with it. FIND THIS POOR LADY.
March 13th, 2009 at 12:13 am
@ Hawksong - We’ve considered this. The waters around St. Maarten are considerably shallow, for the Caribbean islands are not volcanic like Hawaii. It takes specific knowledge of the currents and tides as well as access to a boat capable of going out far enough to find the currents.
We also did helicopter and boat searches shortly after her disappearance. The vast majority of the island is uninhabited, and is the most logical place to burry someone. Lastly, if Leta Cordes was placed in the water she had breast implants with serial numbers on them which have not surfaced.
@ Christy - The timeline is pretty clear. Leta made her last phone call that evening, and that was the last anyone other than Frank and his Mother heard from her.
Supposedly she did not have a phone with her. We know for a fact she did not make it to the Casino that night, and there was never any footage or eyewitnesses who put her there.
Frank has refused to take a polygraph.
Fortunately the local and Dutch authorities on the island have embraced us like their own. While we have had the support of some US authorities, so far the overall response has been underwhelming especially considering Frank is back in the states now.
–Trent, Elaine’s son
March 13th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Good day
A friend has fowarded this web site to me as they are aware that I live on the Island and know that I am an Archaeological diviner, and have found things at distance including bones many years ago, and wondered if my talents could be utilized, If you had any possible sites that needed to be checked out you may contact me
Archaeological divining is an unusual talent so I will not enlarge here
sincerely
Roger
March 13th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Hello Roger,
Pleased to hear from you.
Can you please email us directly at letacordes@gmail.com with your email address so we can communicate privately?
Thank you so much.
Our best to you,
Friends of Leta Cordes
May 15th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
I am sorry for your loss. I hope you do not have to wait much longer for some definitive answer.
I watched the NBC dateline show. I came away from it being very sure something evil happened to Leta Cordes. But I cannot say I necessarily believe that her husband did it. Lots of people fight and do not necessarily kill each other. Lots of people have been murdered but not necessarily by someone they fought with. I am reminded of one gentleman who spent decades having his former friends and neighbours believing he murdered his parents. Cold Case detectives eventually found the real culprit and it was not him. So personally, I would want some more concrete evidence than just the knowledge that they fought. Being arrested is not the same as there being any real proof of wrongdoing. The police have been known to make mistakes as have juries.
So I hope you find out the truth but try not to get so bogged down in tunnel vision that if other possibilities show themselves, you do not recognize them. These are just my thoughts on the limited information the show gave. If her husband is guilty, I hope you find the evidence to prove it. If he is not, I hope you find the evidence to put whoever is guilty away. And I hope you do not have to wait decades for that to happen.
May 15th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
[...] Officials have not stated what this evidence is exactly, but they have revealed they are now working with nearly a half a dozen different agencies including the French St. Martin Authorities, the Royal Dutch Marechaussees, the Kingdom Cooperation Detective Team RST, the Police Force, the FBI, and California Homicide Detectives. Via : letacordes.com [...]
May 16th, 2009 at 11:04 am
dear friends of leta ,
my heart goes out to you .
i did not see the story on dateline but did just read it on msnbc . i am curious as to why there is no mention of frank’s mother’s thoughts , concerns; etc.? other than mentioning that she was there and present during the time leta went missing there is no more information about her ~ why ?
i cannot begin to imagine what you are going through . please know that you are in my prayers .
sincerely ,
diane
~ washington state ~
May 17th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Justice will be done in the Name Of Jesus Christ!!!! If Frank did it ,Woe to you!!! Leta was a Honestly Happy soul,and to be taken from all of us who loved her and still do……Fresno sure will not forget her,We have a deep love for her….If Franks mother was there…what about her,what does she know???? What about the neighbors,someone could have seen her leave…like they seen her in the car passed out????? Leta I Love You,I’ll see you soon in Heaven…
May 20th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Hi Jill,
How are you? Thank you so much for your kind thoughts and love. It is very much appreciated. I tried finding you and Kristi to let you girls know what had happened. So sorry you had to see it on a TV Show
I hope this finds you well. Please send me your telephone numbers so i can see you girls next time I am in town (my father and grandmother still live there).
Take care.
My best to you,
Elaine
May 20th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Question???? Has Franks mother been interviewed by the local authorities? Would she have sat at dinner and in the parking lot partying if they had been fighting the whole evening, or is it as Frank stated, when he took his mother to the house Leta greeted her and they went on to have a pleasant evening? It seems to me the mother is an important piece to this puzzle and yet nothing has been said other than that she was there the night of her disappearance.
After watching the show there are so many questions about fighting, mention of divorce, etc. that Franks mother could answer.
In watching the show I believe she was not buried and was disposed of in the ocean. I would like comments back on my thoughts about the importance of the mother in this.
May 21st, 2009 at 6:07 pm
My heart goes out to the friends and family of Leta. Upon watching the story on Dateline, I was reminded of a friend of mine. I had a friend killed years ago by her husband, he reported her missing (never made it to work the next day) and involved many of her friends and family searching woods and surrounding areas for over a week. He finally confessed after authorities found drops of blood in the home as well as other inconsistencies and took authorities to her badly beaten body which he had killed as she was getting out of the shower and placed her in a box with only her underwear on. Apparently he thought he get away with it because he killed her in one county, reported her missing in another and buried her body in another. I believe he really wanted one of the agencies to mess something up so he could get off on a technicality. He is now serving life in prison with NO chance of parole. I cannot begin to imagine how you feel. Thank goodness this jerk only made us wait one week so we could put our friend to rest and have the closure we needed. God Bless and never give up!
May 21st, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Hi Chris,
Thank you for your thoughts…
Yes, the Officials have interviewed Frank’s mother numerous times. It is believed that yes indeed she knows exactly what happened the night Leta disappeared. Frank Cordes hired his mother an attorney to prevent her from speaking to the Officials any further.
July 4th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
At least they are working in St. Maarten to find this lady. Cannot say that about Aruba.
Justice will be done for Leta. Those criminals won’t get away with whatever they’ve done to her.
You are in my prayers family and friend of Leta.
@ Roger could you pls. email me at helpfindvicenzo@yahoo.com Tnks.
July 6th, 2009 at 5:12 am
I don’t know anything about this case other than reading about it, but I want to say that I am shocked that anything could happen in that area. We have a timeshare at Oyster Bay, (at Oyster Pond) and I have never thought anything of walking around anywhere in that area and being afraid. It has always been such a safe haven. Only one time do I remember anything happending in that area and it was due to some young people drinking too much and they got into a fight. I am hoping and praying that this case will be resolved and this nice looking woman will be found or at least they will know of her fate.