Alleged kidnapper
waives extraditionThe suspect had been living
on Kauai with his 11-year-old child
LIHUE >> John Bryan, who is accused of kidnapping his daughter five years ago, waived extradition to Florida yesterday during a hearing in Kauai Circuit Court.
Also yesterday, Bryan's ex-wife, Elke Hoercher, and their 11-year-old daughter, Angeline, flew back to Florida.
Bryan signed the extradition waiver in front of Judge Clifford Nakea. He made no statement to the court.
The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post reported today that Bryan is negotiating with Boston criminal defense attorney Richard Egbert to represent him. Egbert, in a highly publicized 1998 case, represented Stephen Fagan, who abducted his two daughters and raised them for 19 years under assumed names in Florida. Fagan entered into a plea bargain negotiated by Egbert and received three to five years' probation.
Kauai County Prosecutor Michael Soong said Bryan's lawyer in Florida has asked the court in Palm Beach to set $25,000 bail for Bryan.
If that happens and he makes bail as expected, he can be on his way to Florida almost immediately. If not, he will have to remain in custody on Kauai until police officers from Florida come to Kauai.
Nakea said because Bryan is not charged with breaking any Hawaii laws, a judge in Florida will have to determine bail.
Bryan was arrested on an FBI fugitive warrant last Wednesday as he waited to pick up his daughter at Kapaa Elementary School. An informant had notified police in Florida he was living on Kauai under the name John Lee. His daughter Angeline was using the name Lana and did not remember her real name.
The two disappeared on June 28, 1998, when Angeline began what was supposed to be a month-long visit with her father.
Hoercher, who was divorced from Bryan in 1996, arrived on Kauai Thursday from Florida. Her initial visits were supervised by Child Protective Services.
She issued a statement through Mayor Bryan Baptiste's office yesterday thanking the Kauai Police Department, Kauai Visitors Bureau and Children's Justice Center of Kauai. Her letter indicates she and Angeline spent much of their time getting reacquainted while touring Kauai's north shore.
The Children's Justice Center, she said, "made our reunion as smooth as possible. I would have never imagined that after all this time the meeting with my daughter could go so incredibly well. Angie and I are both so happy that we have found each other again."
