The Federal Bureau of Investigation has offered $10,000; Crime Stoppers, $1,000; IT&E, $1,000; and the Saipan Taxi Association, $500.
Elbert Quitugua, the missing girls’ grandparent, said their family and friends have committed a $10,000 reward.
“We were shocked to learn of the new pledges,” he said yesterday. “We are most grateful and we sincerely appreciate their gesture. We are humbled by their thoughtfulness and the continued support of the community, as well as federal and local authorities, in finding our missing girls.”
He added, “We hope that somebody out there would think hard and finally say something.”
Family members remain optimistic, Quitugua said, especially with the arrival of a search dog from Hawaii’s Civil Defense agency.
Quitugua said they will announce at a later date a candlelight vigil, adding that his family will once again cook meals for federal and local authorities as well as volunteers who continue to search for the girls.
In a statement, Pacific Amusement’s Gebhard said this “tragedy affects the entire community. We all have children at risk and it is imperative that the person or persons responsible for this action be brought to justice. We are hoping that somebody who knows something will tell something.”
FBI Honolulu media relations coordinator and special agent Tom Simon said: “We hope the additional reward money will generate more leads and help authorities in bringing the girls’ home safely. We are overjoyed that we are out of the trash pit and back on the streets as we continue our investigation.”
Simon at the same time said the “Pohnpei side of the case is no longer a valid investigative matter.”
He said U.S. Embassy officials in Pohnpei have already interviewed Ruhtik Rupaul Luhk, 39, the missing girls’ father.
“We don’t believe that the girls are on Pohnpei nor do we believe that the father facilitated their disappearance,” Simon told Variety.
If there’s fresh lead, Simon said, the FBI will revisit the Pohnpei angle of the case.
Federal and local authorities ended their search at the Marpi landfill on Monday.
The search dog, Simon said, is expected to be deployed on Thursday.
Simon urges the community to continue to provide authorities with tips or information about the case.
Call 911, the FBI at 322-6934, the girls’ family hotline at 285-4048 or the Crime Stoppers at 234-7272.
