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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 12:11 p.m., Tuesday, November 4, 2003

Kidnap suspect to be extradited

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua‘i Bureau

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — A father accused of kidnapping his daughter and hiding in Hawai'i under an assumed identity agreed today to waive extradition to Florida, where the girl’s mother lives.

Jon Michael Bryan is accused in Palm Beach County, Florida, of felony charges of kidnapping and other counts.

He signed documents in 5th Circuit Court indicating that he will not fight extradition to face those charges, and he could return to Florida within the week, said Kaua'i prosecuting attorney Michael Soong.

Bryan’s daughter, Angeline, was expected to leave the island today with her mother, Elke Hoercher. A psychologist yesterday completed an assessment that determined that Angeline could remain in the custody of her mother, whom she hadn’t seen since the kidnapping in 1998.

Bryan took his daughter on a one-month visitation, ostensibly for a camping trip to the Florida Keys, in June 1998. He never returned, and Florida authorities lodged felony kidnapping charges.

Authorities received a tip during October that Bryan and his daughter were living on Kaua'i. Kaua'i police confirmed that they were living in Kapa'a under the names Jonny Lee and Lana Lee.

Police and state Child Protective Services workers pulled the 11-year-old child out of school and let her talk to her mother on the telephone. Minutes later, Bryan was arrested at the school when he arrived to pick up his daughter.

Hoercher flew to Kaua'i from Florida Thursday and met with her daughter under the supervision of officials from the state Child Protective Services unit on Kaua'i.

By the weekend, counselors felt the two were comfortable enough that mother and daughter were permitted to stay together without supervision at a local hotel, said Lt. Dean Pigao of the Kaua'i Police Department youth services unit.

"They’re doing just fine. They’re doing real well together," despite Angeline not having seen her mother for the last five of her 11 years, Pigao said.

Pigao said that Angeline, who had been distraught at the loss of her father, was able to meet with him at the Kaua'i emergency services building on Friday afternoon.

Bryan is now being held without bail. Soong said that if Florida authorities agree to set bail, Bryan could post it and return to Florida in the presence of his Florida attorney.

Soong said that would be quicker than arranging for Florida police to accompany Bryan back to the state.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808)245-3074.