LIHU‘E — Alleged custodial kidnapper Jon Michael Bryan headed to the Kaua‘i County Correctional Center Tuesday afternoon. At nearly the same time, his ex-wife, Elke Hoercher, and their daughter, Angeline Bryan-Hoercher, 11, headed back to their Florida home that the
LIHU‘E — Alleged custodial kidnapper Jon Michael Bryan headed to the Kaua‘i County Correctional Center Tuesday afternoon.
At nearly the same time, his ex-wife, Elke Hoercher, and their daughter, Angeline Bryan-Hoercher, 11, headed back to their Florida home that the daughter has not seen in five years.
After living on the run under the assumed name of Johnny Lee for the last five years, Bryan is doing everything within the law to get back to Florida as soon as possible.
Bryan waived his right to fight extradition at a hearing Tuesday morning in Kaua‘i Circuit Court, and county Prosecuting Attorney Michael Soong said Bryan plans to post bail so he can return to Florida before the Sunshine State can get marshals out to take him back.
“He is trying to do it quicker. If they post the bail, (Bryan) goes back right away” with a court-appointed agent to make sure he gets there, said Soong.
Soong said that he had been contacted by Bryan’s Florida attorney, hoping to reduce bail so that Bryan could return to his home state. Bryan was being held without bail on federal charges at the Kaua‘i Police Department cell block. He was transferred to KCCC after court Tuesday, said Lt. Dean Pigao of KPD youth services.
Bryan appeared before Judge Clifford Nakea in Kaua‘i Circuit Court, dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans. His arms were free, but his legs had been shackled together. He immediately waved at an unidentified woman as he walked into court.
After conferring with his local lawyer, June Ikemoto, Bryan waived his right to the extradition meeting.
“By signing this waiver, you agree to return to the state of Florida as a prisoner,” said Nakea.
Meanwhile, Bryan’s daughter Angeline, known as Lana Lee at Kapa‘a Elementary School, was gearing to move to Florida.
“She’s going to go home,” said Pigao.
Angeline and her mother flew out on Tuesday afternoon after spending the weekend at a local hotel, said Pigao. State child protection officials released Angeline into her mother’s custody yesterday after completing their investigation.
Angeline also got to see her father this weekend. The meeting, coordinated by state child protection officials, was for Angeline’s benefit, Pigao said.
“It allowed her to get some closure to all of this,” said Pigao.
He added that KPD officers had one main interest in mind: helping Angeline as much as possible.
“We don’t deal with reunification every day. We have tried to make it as easy as possible for Angeline,” he said.
Staff Writer Tom Finnegan may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252).
