The disappearance of Samantha Koenig in Alaska has received a sad resolution, as authorities have located the missing barista’s body in a lake in Anchorage.

The grim discovery comes nearly two months after Koenig’s presumed abduction from Common Grounds Espresso in Anchorage, where the barista was last seen alive during CCTV footage of a robbery being abducted from the shop by an armed man. At the time, Koenig’s father James (who had raised Samantha since she was “small”) made a heart-wrenching plea to the kidnappers to release his daughter safely, acknowledging that time was working against the family in bringing Samantha Koenig home alive:

“I just need her home… Every day she’s gone, the odds are against us. I will give you anything in this world. I will meet you, I will give you whatever you want. Just please bring my daughter back.”

The body located during a law enforcement dive in Matanuska Lake, off the Glenn Highway in Anchorage, has not been confirmed as that of Samantha Koenig, and an autopsy is pending. But even if the remains were not that of the missing teen, Anchorage Police Chief Mark Mew says that police do not believe that Samantha is still alive. Reading from a written statement Monday, Mew explained to gathered reporters:

“Investigators believe that Samantha died within hours of the abduction, and we are continuing to investigate these facts.”

Law enforcement officials said Monday that they expected to file abduction and murder charges in the disappearance and death of Samantha Koenig, and last month indicated that Israel Keyes, a 34-year-old carpenter in custody on fraud charges, was directly tied to her disappearance.

Samantha Koenig’s Body Found in Anchorage Lake, Police Believe is a post from: The Inquisitr

The father of Samantha Koenig has offered a $12,500 reward for any information about the whereabouts of his 18 year old daughter. He made a frantic plea publicly for her return, begging her kidnapper to please return her to him.

James Koenig told reporters of the the Anchorage Daily News,

“I want to ask my daughter’s captors to please send her home,”

Samantha was last seen on Wednesday evening leaving the Common Grounds Espresso stand in Anchorage, where she worked.

The coffee bar’s cash was taken from the register and security footage shows her leaving with an armed man.

Lt. Dave Parker said, according to ABC News,

“They left on foot, we know that much, but beyond that her disappearance became a complete mystery,”

Police are keeping quiet about the type of weapon the kidnapper used and what happened on the surveillance tape. Samantha’s father believes that the man who kidnapped her was known to his daughter. The police will not comment on what connection, if any, there is between the two. Court records show that less than a year ago she filed for a protective order against an unnamed man, but the order was not issued when she didn’t show up for court to enforce it.

Samantha’s father said at a press conference yesterday,

“I just need her home.”Every day she’s gone, the odds are against us.”

“I will give you anything in this world,” he said in a plea to the kidnappers. “I will meet you, I will give you whatever you want. Just please bring my daughter back.”

Do you think the kidnapper is known to her?

Alaska Father Begs For Abducted Daughter’s Return is a post from: The Inquisitr