Approximately June 28th 1996
Kelly flies to New York to tape the Maury Povich Show
Oct 1996
Kelly flies to California to tape the Unsolved Mysteries segment.
John Moody, guardian ad litem, appears on the show as the "Custody
Expert". Kelly's pro bono attorney, Steve Hutchinson also appears
on the show.
Dec 1996
The Maury Povich reran the July 31, 1996 show.
Joyce Olsen, who had met the Hanes family in Iceland sees the rerun
and writes a letter to Bella Sigurjónsson. Bella shares the letter
with her son Sigurjón Helgi Kristjánsson.
Approximately Dec 21st 1996
Sigurjón Helgi Kristjánson contacts the FBI and informs them that
the Haneses are living in Iceland.
15 January 97
Donald and Connie are informed by local church leaders that
Interpol has been contacted. They are given blessings and
counseled to await the arrival of the mission president in the
following week.
17 January 97
Memo from Interpol Washington to Interpol Reykjavik
Memo states that "this matter concerns the removal to Iceland of a
child whose custody was awarded to her birth mother, Kelly Helton,
by judicial authorities in the state of Nevada, USA."
A description is given of Donald and Connie with instructions to
arrest them. Including an added note:
"Most importantly, if the child is located, we request that she be
placed into protective custody immediately pending a decision to
repatriate her to the USA, the county that exercised original
jurisdiction in determining her legal custody.
The Hanes are living in the upstairs portion of the residence at
Borgarholtsbraut 72, 200 Kopavogur, Iceland."
"and that passports belonging to Donald and Connie Jean Hanes are
in the process of being revoked by the state department.
20 January 97
9 am Connie gets a phone call from Frida* offering her a summur
house where she and her family can hid.
21 January 97
After taking Zenith to school on the bus Donald is arrested at
work.
Noon, Connie is arrested at the school when she arrives to pick
Zenith up.
22 January 97
Memo from Reykjavik to Interpol Washington
"Regarding: Donald ....Connie Jean Hanes...
...International Parental Kidnapping...
Reference is made to your a/m message of 17. January 1197
concerning this matter.
Please be informed that yesterday morning, Zenith Elaine Helton
was placed into protective custody with child protection
authorities in the Village of Kopavogur.
Donald Hanes and Connie Jean Hanes were interviewed by officers
from the National Bureau of Investigation their passports seized
and a court order obtained where Donald and Connie Jean Hanes are
prohibited from leaving this country."
23 January 97
Memo from Interpol Washington to Reykjavik.
"Regarding....Donald Hanes...Connie Jean Hanes...
International Parental Kidnaping
For the information of Interpol Reykjavik, the following
information was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) and may be of interest to you in this matter. Also, your
message of earlier today, 23 Jan 97, was passed on to our
Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs for action.
Message Follows:
To Whom It May Concern,
Ref: New Development Regarding The Hanes's
With reference to my previous facsimiles, regarding the
Hanes's and the kidnapping of Zenith Hanes, they appear to
have been tipped off-, as they have been trying to 'Borrow' a
summer lodge/cabin/house, to "Lie Low., While They Prepare To
Leave The Country.
Although I hate to involve others, it is my civic duty to
inform you. That it is possible (pure speculation nothing
verified), that they will try to leave the country using
someone elses name.
This possibility occurred to me, as, regrettably, two families
appear to sympathize with them and might either 'lend' them
their names to purchase passage from the country or purchase
tickets for them but not in the name of the Hanes's.
If I hear anything, I'll let you know.
Sigurjón Helgi Kristjánsson
Birkimelur 8
P.O. Box 8827
IS-128 Reykjavik
Tel. Home 354-552-2123
Tel. Work 354-550-6645
29 January 1997
The following is an account by Sigurjón Helgi Kristjánsson in
presence of 4 witnesses in the Hanes home. This information can
also be verified by his news releases to various newspapers in
Iceland.
Sigurjón Helgi says:
Joyce Olsen saw the rerun. Joyce had been in Iceland the previous
summer and she had met the Hanes. Joyce wrote a letter to her
friend Bella Sigurjónsson. The letter stated that the Haneses were
wanted by the FBI. Bella "Babs" tells Sigurjón "Helgi", her son
about the letter. "I started talking to my friends", says Helgi.
"They told me that the cards (missing persons flyers) were
distributed. I decided to notify the FBI for a fax number".
He said he was motivated by the 12th Article of Faith.
There were 6 other people involved.
Three of these had spoken with Priesthood leaders.
Two went to the police.
Ţórhildur Einarsdottir, one of the witnesses present, admitted she had called the
police.